Immunomorphological features of female patient’s skin with androgenetic alopecia in the treatment of platelet-rich plasma in combination with topical minoxidil 2 % lotion

Abstract

The aim. The research was provided to obtain immunohistochemical changes in scalp biopsies of female patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) I-II stages according to the Ludwig scale and to detect possible changes after usage of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in combination with topical minoxidil 2 % lotion. Materials and methods. Skin biopsies of 30 patients with AGA were examined by immunohistochemistry before and after treatment, which lasted for 3 months and included 3 PRP sessions (once per month) and topical application of minoxidil 2 % lotion twice daily. Results. It was found that AGA is accompanied by inflammatory perifollicular infiltration by T-lymphocytes CD3 +, CD4 + and CD8 +, macrophages (CD68 +); imbalance of growth polypeptides VEGF, TGF-β1, EGFR; accumulation of oxidative stress enzymes eNOS and iNOS; accumulation of pathological fraction of Collagen IV. The use of platelet-rich plasma in combination with topical 2 % minoxidil as AGA therapy leads to the normalization of immunohistochemical parameters of the skin, which indicates the possibility of its use for long-term therapeutic effect. Conclusions. This study supplemented the understanding of the pathogenesis of AGA and serves as the basis for improving treatment regimens for this pathology. But more research is required to further study the pathomorphology of androgenetic alopecia and to standardize the technique of using platelet-rich plasma in patients with this disease.