Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Combined with Minoxidil Increases Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction in AGA

A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that there was an improvement in treatment efficiency and patient satisfaction when using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with 5% minoxidil for treating male patients with early stage of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Researchers used the randomized control method to divide 80 male patients with AGA in Hamilton grade II-IV into 2 groups of 40 patients each. Group A was treated with 1 ml minoxidil externally twice a day, and Group B was treated with 3500 IU bFGF and 1 ml minoxidil twice a day externally. Patients received global photograph evaluation before treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment. The curative effect was analyzed based on changes in the area, including degree of hair loss on the top of the head and in the anterior parietal area, per the photographs before and after treatment. Additionally, each patient was given a satisfaction questionnaire survey before treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment. Adverse reactions were also recorded during the research.

Results showed that, after 3 months and 6 months of treatment, the 2 groups had a statistically significant difference in effective rate in addition to a significant difference in patient satisfaction at 6 months (p < 0.05). Researchers noted that Group B patients' hair conditions improved significantly when compared with Group A, and that patients in the Group B had reported more satisfaction than those in Group A. Additionally, incidences of adverse reactions between the 2 groups were not significant in the study overall, and no serious adverse reactions occurred in either group.

Reference
Liu C, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Wu W. Clinical observation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with minoxidil in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia. J Cosmet Dermatol. Published online January 17, 2022. doi:10.1111/jocd.14735