A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, and half-head study to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma on androgenetic alopecia

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in the scalp of patients with male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and to determine whether PRP could be used as adjuvant treatment of AGA with topical minoxidil. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 27 male patients with AGA in the study. The patients were randomized to receive a half-head treatment with PRP and the other half head with normal saline (placebo). Minoxidil 5% solution was applied twice daily throughout the study period. Hair counts were done at the first visit and one month after the third injection on 1 cm2 areas (tattooed) on both the right and left sides of the parietal scalp in all the patients. Results were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 10. Results: In PRP-treated areas, hair density increased from 106.48 ± 29.93 (baseline) to 119.29 ± 24.61 (four months) (P = 0.001). In normal saline-treated areas, hair density increased from 104.85 ± 27.29 (baseline) to 120.56 ± 26.86 (four months), (P < 0.001). However, the p-value for normal saline versus PRP was not significant (P = 0.964). Conclusion: Our study evaluates the efficacy of PRP as an adjuvant therapy with topical minoxidil in AGA in northeastern population of India.