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Background: Systematic reviews of healthcare interventions aim to evaluate the quality of clinical studies, but they might have quality issues in their own right., Objective: We aimed to evaluate methodological inconsistencies in systematic reviews., Methods: We searched the database MEDLINE and included systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses on platelet-rich plasma therapy for pattern hair loss., Results: We identified 15 relevant systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, and we identified various overt methodological inconsistencies in five of those systematic reviews. These inconsistencies concerned including duplicate data, mixing data from various study designs, misclassifying study designs and treatment comparisons, misinterpreting heterogeneity, and mistaking reporting standards., Conclusion: The identification of various inconsistencies in previous systematic reviews on platelet-rich plasma therapy for pattern hair loss should prompt future authors to consult the Cochrane Handbook and to implement the PRISMA statement., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern and female pattern hair loss) is characterized by thinning of the scalp hair. Intradermal injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) might have an effect on hair regrowth., Aims: The aim was to evaluate efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma compared to placebo or no treatment in people with pattern hair loss., Patients/methods: We searched the databases CENTRAL and MEDLINE on December 24, 2018 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcomes were mean change of hair density from baseline and serious treatment-related adverse events. Secondary outcome was mean change of hair thickness from baseline. Time point of outcome assessment was 6 months after start of treatment., Results: We identified 13 relevant randomized controlled trials with 356 randomized (343 analyzed) people or half-head areas who received PRP in a simple parallel or half-head design. The pooled data of seven studies (171 analyzed people or half-head areas) were favorable in the PRP group on hair density. We estimated a mean difference from baseline of 30.35 associated with a wide 95% confidence interval (1.77-58.93), a considerable heterogeneity (I 2  = 100%), and unclear risk of bias in most of the studies. Regarding hair thickness, data were also favorable in the PRP group, but these data were limited to a single study. We did not identify serious treatment-related adverse events., Conclusion: The results of seven RCTs indicated that autologous platelet-rich plasma was associated with an increase of hair density when compared to placebo., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Hypertrophic scars frequently follow primary closure of surgical wounds. Laser application at or shortly after suture may be associated with a reduction in scar formation, although the respective study results vary., Aim: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of early laser applied within the first six months after surgery to reduce scar formation compared to no treatment., Methods: We searched the databases MEDLINE and CENTRAL on 14 January 2019 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcome was the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Measure of treatment effect was the mean difference from baseline., Results: Seventeen relevant RCTs randomized 430 scars (413 assessed) and compared laser versus no treatment. Fourteen studies applied a split-scar and three applied a simple parallel design. Three studies with a split-scar design favored the laser group on VSS, and one study had indifferent findings. Considerable heterogeneity I 2  = 86% did not justify a meta-analysis. The remaining 13 studies did not report appropriate data., Conclusion: On the basis of the currently available evidence, we are uncertain whether early laser can reduce scar formation, and more high-quality research is needed for a definitive conclusion., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)