Efficacy of ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser combined with autologous platelet-rich plasma versus ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser and placebo in the treatment of striae gravidarum: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

Striae gravidarum (SG) is a connective tissue disorder seen commonly in primigravidas. It is associated with impairment in the quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of ablative fractional carbon dioxide (CO ) laser combined with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus ablative fractional CO  laser and placebo in the treatment of SG.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial.

METHODOLOGY

The study was conducted in 16 patients with SG. The assigned treatment area (abdomen) was divided into two sides and was randomly assigned to the PRP side and the control side. All patients received ablative fractional CO  laser. Immediately after each laser procedure, the PRP side received autologous PRP, while the control side received plain normal saline solution (pNSS) as a placebo. The study was done for three sessions, at intervals of 4 weeks. An independent assessor used the photographs taken at Weeks 6, 10, 14, and 16 to assess the clinical improvement. The patient satisfaction was reported at the same intervals. A quartile grading scale was used to measure both the clinical improvement and patient satisfaction. Data were analyzed using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Histopathology was done before treatment and at the end of the study period.

RESULTS

The combination of ablative fractional CO  laser and autologous PRP had better clinical improvement and patients' satisfaction compared with ablative fractional CO  laser and placebo. However, both outcome measures were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Ablative fractional CO  laser combined with autologous PRP appears to be an effective treatment in SG.