A randomized blinded retrospective study: the combined use of micro-needling technique, low-level laser therapy and autologous non-activated platelet-rich plasma improves hair re-growth in patients with androgenic alopecia.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Retrospective uncontrolled case series of 23 patients (despite the term randomized in the title, the study design described is an uncontrolled retrospective series).
PubMed 32678725 · doi:10.1080/14712598.2020.1797676
What was done
A retrospective case series evaluated the combined use of autologous non-activated platelet-rich plasma (ANA-PRP), low-level laser therapy (LLL-T), and microneedling (MN-T) in 23 patients with androgenic alopecia (13 males, Norwood-Hamilton stages I–V; 10 females, Ludwig stages I–III). Hair regrowth was monitored at baseline (T0), 12 weeks (T1), 23 weeks (T2), 44 weeks (T3), and 58 weeks (T4) using computerized phototrichograms, photography, and physician/patient global assessment scales.
What was found
Computerized trichograms showed hair density increased from 92 ± 2 hairs/cm² at baseline to 173 ± 5 hairs/cm² at 12 weeks (an increase of 81 ± 5 hairs/cm²) and 149 ± 9 hairs/cm² at 23 weeks (an increase of 57 ± 7 hairs/cm²). Results for weeks 44 (T3) and 58 (T4), as well as photography and global assessment scores, were not reported numerically in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study provides preliminary observational data suggesting that combining platelet-rich plasma, laser therapy, and microneedling can increase hair density in both male and female androgenetic alopecia.
Limits
Despite the word 'randomized' in the title, the abstract describes an uncontrolled retrospective case series of only 23 patients without a control arm, making it impossible to assess the contribution of individual therapies or control for placebo/natural course effects. Data for later follow-up points (T3, T4) are omitted from the abstract, and PRP preparation protocols remain non-standardized.
Cited by
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