Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Baylor College of Medicine
Summary
This study aims to investigate whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can help treat central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), a type of scarring hair loss that mostly affects women of African descent. CCCA is a condition that leads to permanent hair loss, usually starting at the top of the scalp and spreading outward. It can also cause discomfort, such as itching, burning, and pain. The goal is to see if PRP, which comes from the patient's own blood and is thought to reduce inflammation and promote healing, can stop hair loss and even encourage hair regrowth. PRP has been used to treat other types of hair loss, but it has not been widely studied for CCCA. Participants in the study will be women of African descent who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate CCCA. Some participants will receive PRP injections, while others will receive a placebo (an inactive treatment) as part of a randomized, double-blind trial. All participants will continue using a topical steroid treatment, which is the standard of care for this condition. The study will also look at growth factors in participants' blood to understand how they may affect hair loss or regrowth. The goal is to gather information that could lead to better treatments for CCCA, a condition that currently has no standard treatment guidelines. Although there are risks such as minor discomfort from blood draws and scalp injections and/or a small risk of disease progression, the potential benefits include improved hair growth and a better understanding of CCCA treatments.
Description
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a common form of permanent hair loss that primarily affects Black women, with up to 20% of this population experiencing the condition. CCCA is characterized by progressive hair loss starting at the crown and spreading outward, often accompanied by symptoms such as burning, itching, and scalp pain. Current treatments focus on reducing inflammation using topical or injectable steroids and oral anti-inflammatory medications. However, these approaches frequently fail to stop hair loss or stimulate hair regrowth, and little is known about the disea…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Female * Minimum age of 18 years old * Self-identification as person of African descent, including African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, and/or African American * Clinical diagnosis of mild to moderate CCCA located on the vertex or fronto-vertex scalp, and as defined by Central Hair Loss Grade stages 1B, 2B, and 3B Exclusion Criteria: * Intralesional or systemic anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroids, tetracycline antibiotics, anti-malarials) or immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, azathioprine, janus kinase inhibitors) wi…
Interventions
- BiologicalPlatelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
PRP will be injected into the affected scalp.
- DrugSaline
Placebo saline solution will be injected into affected scalp.
Location
- Jamail Specialty Care CenterHouston, Texas