Aleena Irteza Khan, Safoora Aamir, Riffat Naseem, Javeria Rasheed.
Comparing the effectiveness of microneedling along with Platelet Rich Plasma versus microneedling alone in treatment of acne scars.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;33(4):1500-7.

Objective:  To study the difference in results when microneedling is administered with platelet rich plasma as opposed to microneedling alone.   Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Dermatology Department of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. 182 patients participated in the study. Two groups were formed and patients were with acne scars fulfilling the qualitative global scarring (Goodman and Baron) grade II- IV criteria, were divide equally. Patients from Group A received only the microneedling treatment, while patients from Group B received a combination of microneedling with PRP.   Results: The largest age group comprised of patients between 18-25 years of age, followed by patients between 18-35 years of age. The mean age of the patients was Mean±SD 25.44±4.57 for Group A and 24.92±3.45years in Group B. In our study, there were 22(24%) male patients and 69 (76%) females in Group A, and 40 (44%) male patients and 51 (56%) females in Group B. In the current study at the final follow up visit, 45 (49.5%) patients improved in group A while 73 (80%) patients improved in group B. At the completion of follow up, change of one grade was noted in Group A in 13 (52%) patients who had grade 3 and 4 scarring, while no change was noted in 12 (48%) patients. In Group B, at the completion of 4 months, improvement of one grade was noted in 18 (72%) patients with grade 3 and 4 scarring, and no improvement was noted in 7 (28%) patients. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was noted in the results of the two groups.   Conclusion:  Microneedling is an easy, safe and economical treatment for the cure of facial atrophic scars. Combination of microneedling and autologous PRP gives overall better clinical results. It is concluded that combination of PRP and microneedling offers better clinical outcomes as opposed to microneedling alone.  

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com