Not Yet RecruitingPhase 4

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

United States56 participantsStarted 2025-09-30

Plain-language summary

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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Exclusion Criteria: * 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 * Thrombocytopenia (as defined by baseline platelet count \< 150,000 platelets per microliter of blood) * Antiplatelet or platelet altering medications (such as but not limited to aspirin, NSAIDS, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel, cilostazol, and dipyridamole) within 4 weeks of baseline visit * Diagnosis of other significant concomitant alopecia * Clinically significant uncontrolled disease, malignancy, or major psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization (as determined by investigator) * Subjects not willing to follow suggested hair care practices such as limiting/avoiding traction-associated styles

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Physician Global Assessment of Regrowth (PGARG)

Timeframe: At each injection visit: week 0, week 4, week 8, and week 20 (treatment arm 2 and placebo arm 2 only), and three months and six months after final injection

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06998433

SponsorBaylor College of Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-07-31

Contact for this trial

Chidimma Okwara, MD

281 845 9847 chidimma.okwara@bcm.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia trials