Clinical Trial: Efficacy and Safety of Platelet Rich Plasma in Androgenetic Alopecia
Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Efficacy and Safety of Platelet Rich Plasma in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: The investigators plan to conduct a clinical trial to assess the effects and safety of platelet rich plasma on androgenetic alopecia.
Detailed Summary:
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is made from your own blood by taking a sample of venous blood, placing it in a special tube, and spinning the blood in a centrifuge which is a piece of equipment used to separate the components of blood. Blood is made of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, while plasma, the liquid component is predominantly water but also contains clotting factors, proteins, and glucose. Platelets are small, disk shaped clear cell fragments which are a natural source of growth factors. They circulate in the blood and are involved in hemostasis which is a process which causes bleeding to stop, leading to the formation of blood clots. So-called "Platelet-rich plasma" represents the patient's own plasma that has been mechanically centrifuged to increase the concentration of platelets compared to the whole blood. The basic idea behind PRP injection is to deliver high concentrations of growth factors to the scalp, with the hope of stimulating hair regrowth.
PRP is an innovative therapy and has been used since 1987 to help promote healing in orthopedic surgery, dental surgery and dermatology. Recently, there have been reports supporting the use of PRP in the treatment of hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss. It has very limited treatment modalities which includes minoxidil, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and hair transplantation. Each option has its own side effects range from hypertrichosis which is excessive hair growth, possible birth defects if given to women of child bearing age, decreased libido and the possibility of prolonged impotence.
To our best knowledge, there are no double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of PRP injection in treating AGA. A placebo
Sponsor: Vancouver General Hospital
Current Primary Outcome: The degree of hair regrowth based on the hair regrowth score (RGS) for each side of scalp. [ Time Frame: 16 weeks ]
Original Primary Outcome: Same as current
Current Secondary Outcome: Changes in hair count and caliber. Changes in hair count and caliber [ Time Frame: 16 weeks ]
Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current
Information By: Vancouver General Hospital
Dates:
Date Received: February 25, 2014
Date Started: April 2014
Date Completion: December 2015
Last Updated: December 10, 2014
Last Verified: December 2014
