Evaluation of platelet‐rich plasma plus basic fibroblast growth factor combined with minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Platelet‐rich plasma plus basic fibroblast growth factor (PRPF) has been confirmed to be a safe and valuable therapy for androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, the efficacy of PRPF combined with minoxidil treatment remains unknown. Objective To assess the efficacy of combined PRPF and minoxidil treatment for AGA. Methods In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 75 patients with AGA were randomly divided into three groups and were administered the following treatments: Group 1, direct intradermal PRPF injection; Group 2, topical minoxidil 5% twice daily; and Group 3, PRPF injection combined with minoxidil. The PRPF injection was performed three times, 1 month apart. Hair growth parameters were evaluated using a trichoscope until the sixth month of the study. Patient satisfaction and side effects were recorded during the follow‐up. Results All patients showed improvements (p < 0.05) in hair count, terminal hair, and decrease in telogen hair ratio after treatment. The efficacy of PRPF complex therapy revealed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in hair count, terminal hair and growth rate, compared with monotherapy. Limitations Small sample size, short follow‐up time and lack of quantification of GFs in PRPF. Conclusion The effect of complex therapy exceed both the effects of PRPF monotherapy and minoxidil treatment, which can be a beneficial AGA treatment strategy.

Regenerative medicine in the treatment of specific dermatologic disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials

“…The PRP group underwent five treatment sessions with platelet-rich plasma administered at 4–6-week intervals, followed by two check-up sessions at 4 weeks (FU1) and 6 months (FU2) after the final treatment In the PRP group, improvement was reported by 13 patients (68.4%), while 6 individuals (31.6%) did not observe any noticeable change. Within the placebo group, 4 participants (44.4%) experienced improvement, another 4 (44.4%) did not detect any change, and 1 subject (11.1%) reported worsening hair loss Swelling, Redness, Bleeding in treated areas, Hematoma, and Pain Wu et al [ 40 ] RCT 75 patients Unknown Unknown AGA Combination of PRP and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) Participants were allocated randomly into three different groups: Group 1 received a combination of PRP and bFGF (PRPF) injections monthly, Group 2 used Minoxidil 5% twice a day, and Group 3 received a combination of treatments In the PRPF group, there was a mean hair count increase of 31.28 hairs, in the minoxidil group it was 11.32 hairs, and in the combination therapy group it was 41.96 hairs ( p < 0.05). The effectiveness of PRPF alone was superior to minoxidil treatment.…”

“…Moreover, there was a significant improvement seen in the group treated with the PRP and bFGF combination compared to the group solely using 5% topical minoxidil. The average increase in hair count was approximately 31.28 hairs in the PRP group, 11.32 hairs in the minoxidil group, and 41.96 hairs in the combined therapy group ( p < 0.05) [ 40 ].…”

“…Research suggests that PRP injections, especially when administered using the double spin method, can lead to increased hair growth and density, particularly of terminal hairs [ 25 ]. Additionally, combining PRP with growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor or Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF) has shown enhanced efficacy in promoting hair regrowth [ 40 , 43 ].…”

The Biological Role of Platelet Derivatives in Regenerative Aesthetics

“…Several authors have combined PRP with other substances to improve the treatment efficacy of AGA. In a recent study, Wu and collaborators [ 27 ] used PRP plus fibroblast growth factor (PRPF) and minoxidil. In this prospective, randomized, controlled study, 75 patients with AGA were divided into three groups according to the type of treatment used.…”

The Application of Blood Products in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review

“…PRP Facial injection and treatment of hair lossImmediatelyCompared with using sodium citrate to prepare PRP, using acid citrate dextrose-A as an anticoagulant for preparing PRP can alleviate pain in patients during PRP injection Wu et al23 PRPF Combined treatment with minoxidil for AGA6 moThe combination treatment of PRPF and minoxidil is more effective than using PRPF alone and minoxidil (Continued)PRPc, cord blood PRP.…”