Impact of Age on Response to Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy.

Abstract

Introduction: Although platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a widely used treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the impact of patient age on treatment efficacy remains underexplored.

Method: This retrospective study evaluated PRP outcomes in 57 AGA patients treated at NYU Langone Health, stratified into four age cohorts. Changes in trichometric hair density and width were measured from initial to final follow-up visits. Statistical significance and linear regression testing were determined using ANOVA and Rank-Based ANCOVA, respectively.

Results: While overall changes in density and width did not differ significantly across age groups, younger patients trended toward greater density gains. Furthermore, greater baseline hair width was predictive of smaller improvements in width, and significant interactions between age and the number of PRP sessions suggested that older individuals may require a greater number of treatments to attain results comparable to those seen in younger cohorts. Additionally, improvements in hair density were positively associated with the number of adjunctive therapies, as patients who received more concurrent treatments experienced greater gains. PRP was well tolerated across all age groups.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential impact of patient age on PRP efficacy, informing counseling and treatment planning.