A small scale study to evaluate the efficacy of microneedling in the presence or absence of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of post-clipping alopecia in dogs.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Post-clipping alopecia often has a clinically poor response to therapy and prolonged alopecia is a source of anxiety for some owners. In humans and dogs, superficial microtrauma via a microneedling (MN) device induces mechanical stimulation of the hair follicle with resultant hair regrowth. Human studies suggest that concurrent application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with MN induces more rapid regrowth of better-quality hair than microneedling alone. HYPOTHESIS: Microneedling with PRP will induce more rapid regrowth of better quality hair. ANIMALS: Four unrelated client-owned dogs diagnosed with post-clipping alopecia. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a prospective study. The affected site was divided in half, with the first half treated with MN alone and the second half treated with MN&#xa0;+&#xa0;PRP. Hair regrowth was assessed by clinician and owner using a hair growth assessment scale (HGAS) at one, three, six and 12&#xa0;months. RESULTS: At three months, all dogs had improved and three exhibited greater hair regrowth on the MN&#xa0;+&#xa0;PRP side. A similar response was noted bilaterally in three dogs, which had improved by 76-100% at six months and remained unchanged at 12&#xa0;months. One dog improved by&#xa0;<&#xa0;26% at six months, but had>&#xa0;50% re-growth by 12&#xa0;months. The small sample size precluded statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In dogs with post-clipping alopecia, MN&#xa0;+&#xa0;PRP appeared to induce more rapid hair regrowth than MN; however, overall results were visibly&#xa0;equivalent by six months regardless of method. Both MN and MN&#xa0;+&#xa0;PRP proved successful for treating post-clipping alopecia.