안드로겐탈모에서 저출력광치료와 국소 미녹시딜의 병용요법과국소 미녹시딜 단독요법의 효과 비교: 체계적 문헌고찰 및 메타분석

Abstract

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common non-scarring alopecia that affects both males and females. Two medical treatments, finasteride and minoxidil, have been approved by the United States Food and DrugAdministration (FDA). However, both treatments do not always show satisfactory outcomes, and several adverseeffects have been reported. In 2007, low-level light therapy (LLLT) was approved by the FDA for the treatment ofAGA; however, its effect in combination with topical minoxidil has been controversial. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a combination therapy of LLLT and topical minoxidil versus topicalminoxidil monotherapy for AGA. Methods: Literature search of Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed databases was conducted. One controlled clinical trialand four randomized controlled trials were included. Statistical analyses of the extracted outcome data from thestudies were performed using Rex Software (version 3.6.3). Results: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the combination therapy showed significant improvement in hairdensity (n/cm2; standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04∼0.97; p=0.0315) andhair thickness (μm; SMD, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.29∼1.00; p=0.0004) compared to the monotherapy, but not inphotographic score (SMD, 1.13; 95% CI, −0.09∼2.35; p=0.0696). Sex-based subgroup analyses revealed astatistically significant difference in hair density and thickness in female patients. However, there were no significantdifferences in the photographic score and hair density of male patients. Conclusion: LLLT could be an effective adjunct to topical minoxidil for the treatment of AGA, especially in femalepatients. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.