The Comparative Effectiveness of Prescription and Selected Alternative Therapies for Pattern Hair Loss: Protocol for a Multiple Treatment Comparison Meta-Analysis

The document outlines a protocol for a multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the comparative effectiveness of prescription and selected alternative therapies for pattern hair loss (PHL), also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The study will focus on monotherapies such as minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride, comparing them to placebos. The main outcome will be the change in total hair density over 24 weeks. The analysis will include prospective studies, particularly randomized controlled trials, and will employ a Bayesian model for data synthesis. The study seeks to address knowledge gaps in the effectiveness of conventional and alternative treatments for AGA, leveraging existing literature to conduct a comprehensive network meta-analysis.