Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Males With Androgenetic Alopecia

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common cause of hair loss in men with limited treatment options. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is one of the newer treatment modalities in the management of AGA with promising results.

Aim: The aim is to assess the efficacy of PRP in males with AGA and to study any adverse events associated with the procedure.

Methods: A total of 30 patients participated in the study, and they were administered PRP injections every three weeks for four sessions. An evaluator's visual assessment of improvement based on digital photographs was done at three, six, and nine weeks and then at the end of the fourth month. The patient's perception of improvement was evaluated on a 7-point scale at the baseline and at the end of the fourth month.

Results: Of the 30 participants, 27 completed all four sessions. Mild improvement was seen in 13 (48.1%) patients, moderate improvement was seen in five (18.5%) patients, and excellent improvement was seen in one (3.7%) patient. Six (22.2%) patients had involvement in the vertex region of the scalp; of them, three (50%) had moderate improvement, one (16.7%) had excellent improvement, and two (33.3%) had mild improvement. Twenty-one (77.8%) patients had involvement in the fronto-temporal region of the scalp, of which nine (42.9%) had mild improvement, and five (23.8%) had moderate improvement.

Conclusion: PRP treatment alone appeared to be a simple, cost-effective treatment for AGA with good results.