The Impact of Growth Factors in Platelet-Rich Plasma Combination Therapy for Androgenic Alopecia

January 2024 in “ Dermatologic Therapy ”

Jie Ren, Yujing Huang, Zheng-Hui Li, Yi Zhao, Hsiaohan Tuan

platelet-rich plasma androgenic alopecia hair density glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor GDNF hair caliber platelet-derived growth factor-BB PDGF-BB PRP AGA

Studysummary This study reported that in patients with androgenic alopecia, platelet-rich plasma therapy's effectiveness in enhancing hair density and caliber was positively correlated with specific growth factor concentrations, notably glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor and platelet-derived growth factor-BB, while no significant correlations were found with demographic factors. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study on 46 patients (28 males, 18 females) examined the efficacy of combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with conventional treatments for androgenetic alopecia (AGA). PRP, rich in growth factors, was injected into the scalp alongside oral finasteride and topical minoxidil for males, and oral spironolactone and topical minoxidil for females. Results showed significant improvements in hair density and caliber, with specific growth factors like PDGF-BB and GDNF correlating positively with these improvements. The study supports PRP's potential as an effective adjunct therapy for AGA, highlighting the need for further research into its mechanisms and standalone potential.

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This systematic review found that platelet-rich plasma may increase hair density and count in male androgenetic alopecia, though limitations in study quality and consistency suggest further research is needed.

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This study concluded that platelet-rich plasma is effective and safe for increasing hair density in androgenetic alopecia, showing significant improvement compared to placebo at 3 and 6 months.

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