Systematic review: The platelet-rich plasma use in female androgenetic alopecia as effective autologous treatment of regenerative plastic surgery.

[BACKGROUND] The number of clinical trials evaluating platelet-rich plasma (PRP) efficacy in female androgenetic alopecia (F-AGA) has exponentially increased during the last five years. A systematic review focused on this specific field has been performed by assessing the local infiltrations of PRP compared with any control for F-AGA in the selected studies.

[OBJECTIVES] The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of PRP in F-AGA.

[METHODS] The protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting for Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. A multistep search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Ebase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus database, and Cochrane databases has been performed to identify papers on female pattern hair loss (FPHL) treatment with PRP. Of the 63 articles initially identified, 11 articles focusing on AGA were selected and, consequently, only 5 articles focused exclusively on F-AGA were analyzed. Of this amount, 3 articles were randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), 1 clinical trial, and 1 double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study (DBPCPS). The studies included had to match predetermined criteria according to the PICOS (patients, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design) approach.

[RESULTS] Eight percent of the articles selected and analyzed, reported a positive effect of PRP for F-AGA treatment. The information analyzed highlights the positive effects of PRP on F-AGA, without major side effects and thus, it may be considered as a safe and effective alternative procedure to treat hair loss compared with traditional drugs as Minoxidil® and Finasteride®.

[CONCLUSIONS] The use of PRP in F-AGA was safe and effective for F-AGA.