The Utility of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Alopecia.

Abstract

Importance: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a novel therapy for alopecia. Although the use of PRP remains under investigation, medical practitioners administer PRP for hair regrowth without quantitative evidence of clinical results. Objective: Systematically review literature regarding PRP for alopecia. Evidence Review: PRISMA guidelines were utilized to search the PubMed database in May 2019 with search terms "platelet rich plasma" and "hair", "hair loss", or "alopecia". Manuscripts were included if they were written in English and described PRP treatment in human subjects with alopecia. Findings: Sixty-one articles discussed the use of PRP as monotherapy, or in combination with other medical modalities, for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata (AA), and cicatricial alopecia, ranging from level Ib to IV evidence. PRP results in significant increase in hair density and hair shaft width in AGA patients, with high rates of patient satisfaction and minimal adverse events. Data heterogeneity and limited number of well-designed, large-scale clinical trials were limitations of this review. Conclusions and Relevance: Preliminary results regarding the use of PRP for AGA, AA, and cicatricial alopecias are promising. Physicians should be aware that current studies often report qualitative, rather than quantitative, clinical outcomes and should counsel patients regarding PRP treatment efficacy accordingly. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(7): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5192.