Short-Term Efficacy of Autologous Cellular Micrografts in Male and Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Shadi Zari, Shadi Zari

Abstract

Purpose: Autologous cellular micrografts (ACM) is a novel treatment method in hair loss, and few data are available regarding its efficacy. The present study was carried out to assess the short-term clinical efficacy of a single application of ACM in the treatment of male and female androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Materials and methods: This was a single-center retrospective study involving 140 consecutive adults with confirmed AGA, who received a single session of ACM (Regenera Activa®). Efficacy was evaluated 1-6 months after treatment, by analyzing the change of trichometry parameters, which were assessed using TrichoScan digital image analysis.

Results: Depending on the scalp region, there was increase in mean hair density by 4.5-7.12 hair/cm2, average hair thickness by 0.96-1.88 μm, % thick hair by 1.74-3.26%, and mean number of follicular units by 1.30-2.77, resulting in an increase of cumulative hair thickness by 0.48-0.56 unit. Additionally, the frontal region showed a significant decrease in % thin hair (-1.81%, p = 0.037) and yellow dots (-1.93 N/cm2, p = 0.003). A favorable response was observed in 66.4% of the participants in the frontal region. Further, a gender-specific effect of treatment was observed.

Conclusion: ACM is a promising treatment in AGA with a short-term favorable response observed in up to approximately two-thirds of patients.

Keywords: androgenetic alopecia; autologous cellular micrografts; efficacy; pattern hair loss; regrowth.

Conflict of interest statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest for this work and has no financial interests to disclose.

© 2021 Zari.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Area coverage index (ACI) definition, calculation formula and pixel transformation method. The figure describes the method proposed by the author to portray the visual aspect of the scalp as a function of the hair density and average hair thickness, by the (A) unit definition, (B) calculation and (C) pixel transformation of an area coverage index (ACI).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Change in key indicators of hair growth, by scalp region, in male and female androgenic alopecia after treatment with autologous cellular micrografts (ACM). Pictures depict: 1) relative pre- to post-intervention change (in percent, left panels) of the 5 positive (green bars) and 2 negative (Orange bars) parameters as adjusted by the respective baseline population mean, that is, bar heights represent the percentage of change in the given parameter by reference to the baseline population mean; 2) mean derived Sinclair grade (right panels) in baseline versus after treatment with ACM. Panels correspond to findings in different scalp regions including frontal (A), temporal (B), and occipital (C) regions.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Short-term hair growth in male and female androgenic alopecia after treatment with autologous cellular micrografts (ACM). Pictures depict pre- to post-intervention change in area coverage index (ACI) in the frontal (A), temporal (B), and occipital (C) regions. Each grid represents 9cm2 (3×3cm) of scalp area; where gray cells represent the scalp area covered by hair, white cells represent the scalp areas not covered by hair, and dark gray cells represent highly dense areas indicating ACI > 1cm2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pre and post treatment scalp photographs of a sample female and male patients with androgenetic alopecia, before and after treatment with autologous cellular micrografts (ACM). Photographs show cosmetic improvement after autologous cellular micrografts in a female (1) and a male (2) patient. In the female patient (1), there was increase in CHT from 10.3, 7.5 and 9.9 to 10.5, 8.3 and 12 mm/cm2 in frontal, temporal and occipital areas, respectively. In the male patient (2), there was increase in CHT from 12.7 to 13.2 mm/cm2 in the frontal and 8.8 to 12.3 mm/cm2 in the occipital area, while CHT decreased from 8.5 to 7.5 mm/cm2 in the temporal area.

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Source: PubMed

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