Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phasePhase 4
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18+
SponsorBaylor College of Medicine

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

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

Disqualifiers

Intralesional or systemic anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroids, tetracycline antibiotics, anti-malarials) or immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, azathioprine, janus kinase inhibitors) within 4 weeks of baseline visit

Pregnant women

Topical minoxidil, metformin, or retinoic acid for 4 weeks prior to baseline visit

Severe or end-stage CCCA, Central Hair Loss Grade stage >3B

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
  • Saline

Treatment groups

56 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators