Stromal vascular fraction‐enriched platelet‐rich plasma therapy reverses the effects of androgenetic alopecia

Abstract

Background Since antiquity, humans have been trying to devise remedies to cure androgenetic alopecia (AGA). These efforts include use of oral and topical concoctions and hair transplant strategies. As AGA affects people of all colors and creed, there has been a continuous effort to find a magic bullet against AGA. Unfortunately, to date, all the strategies to negate AGA effects have limitations and thus require new treatment options. Aim To evaluate the efficacy of use of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in androgenetic alopecia patients. Methods Stromal vascular fraction was obtained by enzymatic digestion of autologous adipose tissue. The patients were divided into two groups, that is, platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) group and SVF‐PRP group. In PRP group, only PRP was injected, while in SVF‐PRP group a mixture of PRP and SVF was injected in affected scalp areas. After two sessions (4 weeks apart), the patients in both groups were assessed and analyzed using various parameters. Results Mean hair density in PRP group was increased from 52.44 hair/cm2 to 63.72 hair/cm2 (21.51% increase); while in SVF‐PRP group, it was 37.66 hair/cm2 before treatment and 57.11 hair/cm2 after SVF‐PRP therapy (51.64% increase). Percentage reduction in pull test was more significant in SVF‐PRP group (80.78 ± 5.84) as compared to PRP group (34.01 ± 22.44). The physician and patient assessment scores also indicated a significant improvement in SVF‐PRP group. Conclusion A combined SVF‐PRP therapy reversed effects of AGA more efficiently as compared to PRP therapy alone.

The Effect of Stromal Vascular Fraction for Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

“…Adipose tissue has an important place in both tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications as a biological active complex. Adipose tissue can be used either directly as SVF or as stem cell separated from SVF [21]. In our study, we used SVF, which contains stem cell, directly.…”

Regenerative Medicine Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia

“…There was also significant improvement in the physician and patient assessment scores in the SVF-PRP group. 39 A similar study by Stevens et al also reported benefits with the combined therapy of SVF with PRP (platelet-rich stroma [PRS]) 40 …”

“…There was also significant improvement in the physician and patient assessment scores in the SVF-PRP group. 39 A similar study by Stevens et al also reported benefits with the combined therapy of SVF with PRP (platelet-rich stroma [PRS]) 40 Several studies are available for ADSC-CM using commercial ADSC-CM products called advanced adipose-derived stem cell protein extract (AAPE ) (Prostemics Co, Ltd, Seoul, South Korea) by Fukuoka et al who studied 68 patients of male and female pattern hair loss (PHL) over 5 years in three published studies. [41][42][43][44] ADSC-CM was found to be effective in inducing hair growth.…”

Infranatant Portion of Microfragmented Adipose Tissue: A Promising Source of SVF for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia

“…Moreover, many studies proved that ADSCs favor the bulb function by stimulating hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) [17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The association of SVF and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has proved to be an effective protocol in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia but the standard protocol of autologous regenerative treatment for AGA involves the injection of microfragmented adipose tissue in the scalp [24,25]. We limited this approach to cases of Secondary Cicatricial Alopecia (SCAs), where the engraftment of mature adipocytes was useful in order to recreate or enhance subdermal thickness [26].…”