SYSTEMATIC REVIEW TO ASSESS EFFECTS OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) INJECTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA (AGA).

*Dr. Aymen Alharbi, M.D, Dr. Faris Thamer Alsaedi, MBBS, Atheer Thamer Alsaedi, MBBS and Dr. Nasir Ali, PhD in Public Health

ABSTRACT

Androgenetic` alopecia (AGA) is one of the most common chronic problems seen by dermatologists worldwide. It is characterized by progressive hair loss, especially of scalp hair, and has distinctive patterns of loss in women versus men, but in both genders the central scalp is most severely affected. These systematic review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for the treatment of Androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Various databases were searched for relevant reviews and these include PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane and Google Scholar form the years 2010 until November 30, 2016. These searches produced only 15 articles that fulfilled inclusion criteria and were carefully reviewed, the total number of patients participated were 634.The review clearly highlighted the positive effects Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections on male and female pattern hair loss or Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) with no adverse effects but there was no studies carried out to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of different available options medications for the management of AGA, so still more extensive controlled studies are needed weather to study the effects of PRP injections or to compare the effects of other available medications in the treatment of AGA.

Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hair loss.