COMPARING THE EFFICACY OF INJECTABLE PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN (I-PRF) WITH PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) IN THE TREATMENT OF ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v2024i1.1353Keywords:
Androgenic Alopecia, Hair Loss, Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin, Platelet-Rich Plasma, Regenerative TherapyAbstract
Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is a common form of hair loss affecting both men and women worldwide. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have emerged as promising therapies for AGA due to their regenerative properties. Aim and Objective: This study compared the efficacy of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating androgenic alopecia to determine which treatment modality yields superior hair growth outcomes in AGA patients. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan from January 2024 to July 2024. One hundred patients diagnosed with AGA were recruited and randomly assigned to the I-PRF or PRP groups. The I-PRF group received injections of injectable platelet-rich fibrin, while the PRP group received platelet-rich plasma injections. Hair growth parameters, including hair density and thickness, were assessed using standardized photography and trichoscopy at baseline and 6 months. Patient satisfaction and adverse events were also recorded. Results: The I-PRF group demonstrated superior hair growth outcomes than the PRP group. Hair density and thickness analysis revealed a significant increase in both parameters in the I-PRF group compared to baseline (p < 0.001). In contrast, the PRP group showed less pronounced improvements in hair growth parameters. Patient satisfaction rates were higher in the I-PRF group, with fewer adverse events reported compared to the PRP group. Conclusion: Injectable plat Injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) emerges as a more effective treatment modality for androgenic alopecia than platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The superior hair growth outcomes and higher patient satisfaction rates observed in the I-PRF group highlight its potential as a promising therapeutic option for AGA patients. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimise the use of I-PRF in the management of AGA.
Downloads
References
York K, Meah N, Bhoyrul B, Sinclair R. A review of the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy. 2020;21(5):603-12.
Anastassakis K, Anastassakis K. Hormonal and genetic etiology of male androgenetic alopecia. Androgenetic Alopecia From A to Z: Vol 1 Basic Science, Diagnosis, Etiology, and Related Disorders. 2022:135-80.
Lolli F, Pallotti F, Rossi A, Fortuna MC, Caro G, Lenzi A, et al. Androgenetic alopecia: a review. Endocrine. 2017;57:9-17.
Kaiser M, Abdin R, Gaumond SI, Issa NT, Jimenez JJ. Treatment of androgenetic alopecia: current guidance and unmet needs. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2023:1387-406.
Li X-h, Xiao H-x, Wang Z-x, Tang X-r, Yu X-f, Pan Y-p. Platelet Concentrates Preconditioning of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Combined Therapies: Integrating Regenerative Strategies for Enhanced Clinical Applications. Cell Transplantation. 2024;33:09636897241235460.
Fujioka-Kobayashi M, Katagiri H, Kono M, Schaller B, Zhang Y, Sculean A, et al. Improved growth factor delivery and cellular activity using concentrated platelet-rich fibrin (C-PRF) when compared with traditional injectable (i-PRF) protocols. Clinical oral investigations. 2020;24:4373-83.
Sharma A, Chouhan K, Bhatia S, Dashore S. Platelet-rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia. Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2021;12(Suppl 1):S31-S40.
Arora G, Arora S. Platelet‐rich plasma—Where do we stand today? A critical narrative review and analysis. Dermatologic Therapy. 2021;34(1):e14343.
Miron RJ, Chai J, Zhang P, Li Y, Wang Y, Mourão CFdAB, et al. A novel method for harvesting concentrated platelet-rich fibrin (C-PRF) with a 10-fold increase in platelet and leukocyte yields. Clinical oral investigations. 2020;24:2819-28.
Gupta AK, Renaud HJ, Rapaport JA. Platelet-rich plasma and cell therapy: the new horizon in hair loss treatment. Dermatologic Clinics. 2021;39(3):429-45.
Bai M-Y, Vy VPT, Tang S-L, Hung TNK, Wang C-W, Liang J-Y, et al. Current progress of platelet-rich derivatives in cartilage and joint repairs. International journal of molecular sciences. 2023;24(16):12608.
Schiavone G, Paradisi A, Ricci F, Abeni D. Injectable platelet-, leukocyte-, and fibrin-rich plasma (iL-PRF) in the management of androgenetic alopecia. Dermatologic Surgery. 2018;44(9):1183-90.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 N RANI , MK SHAHZAD , T HASSAN , N HANIF , M ULLAH , F HUMERA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.