Pifu-xingbing zhenliaoxue zazhi (Jun 2023)

Efficiency of autologous platelet-rich plasma for androgenic alopecia: a preliminary study

  • Jie ZHANG,
  • Wei LAI,
  • Haiyan CHEN,
  • Feng ZHOU,
  • Yue ZHENG

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8468.2023.03.006
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 3
pp. 219 – 226

Abstract

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Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and to investigate the correlation between concentrations of growth factors and efficacy. Methods Seven male patients with AGA were included in this prospective study. In each subject, one side of the alopecia area was randomly injected with PRP while the opposite side was injected with saline once every other week for 3 times, followed by follow-up at 1, 2, and 3 months. Clinical pictures and dermoscopy images were taken for assessment of efficacy by patients and doctors. ELISA was used to measure the levels of PDGF, TGF-β and VEGF in PRP and peripheral blood. Relationship between efficacy and concentration of growth factors was also determined. Results After the treatment, both hair density hair/follicle ratio were increased on the PRP side compared with the placebo side (P<0.05). Anagen/telogen ratio on the PRP side was higher than that at baseline (P<0.05). The effective rate was 42.86% on the PRP side as assessed by the physician and the patients. The mean concentrations of PDGF, TGF-β and VEGF in PRP after activation were 36.73 ng/mL, 11.30 ng/mL and 2.97 ng/mL, respectively, which enrichment coefficients were 2.14, 1.9 and 2.3 times of that in peripheral blood, respectively. Platelet count in PRP was not significantly correlated with VEGF and TGF-β concentrations. But platelet enrichment coefficient was positively and linearly correlated with PDGF and VEGF enrichment coefficients in PRP (P<0.05). Concentrations of TGF-β and VEGF in PRP were higher in the effective than in the ineffective group(P<0.05). Conclusions PRP can promote hair growth and increase the proportion of hair in the anagen phase. The efficacy of PRP is correlated with the concentrations of growth factors (TGF-β, VEGF) and the ability of platelets to release growth factors.

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