Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42345033›Full record

ReviewPlastic surgery (Oakville, Ont.)2026

The Role of Hyaluronan in Keloid and Hypertrophic Scar Pathogenesis and Treatment.

Jay Shah, Ayushi Bhatt, Sammie Yu, Kathleen A Hill, Eva Turley, Caitlin J Symonette

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Plastic surgery (Oakville, Ont.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jay ShahDepartment of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1581-7235
Ayushi BhattDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9134-8827
Sammie YuTemerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7960-9335
Kathleen A HillDepartment of Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7788-5105
Eva TurleyDepartment of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7383-4896
Caitlin J SymonetteDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0929-6146

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Keloid and hypertrophic scars are products of abnormal wound healing and can cause disfigurement, discomfort, and decreased quality of life. The precise mechanisms of how these scars form remain unclear, and despite several management strategies, there is currently no definitive management approach that prevents recurrence of keloid scars. Hyaluronan (HA) is a polysaccharide with critical functions in inflammation, fibrosis, and skin health. This narrative review explores what is currently known about the role of HA and associated proteins in keloid and hypertrophic scar pathogenesis and management. Methods: The online MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for articles on keloid and hypertrophic scarring and HA from 1946 to 2026. English-language, peer-reviewed articles with empirical evidence examining human keloid scar tissue, animal models, cell-culture models, hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronome-associated genes were included. Twenty-one studies met all inclusion criteria. Results: HA concentration was diminished in cell-based models of keloid and hypertrophic scars relative to normal skin. Observed aberrant localization of HA was likely related to the altered expression of genes encoding proteins responsible for the synthesis, degradation, binding, and signaling properties of HA. Intralesional and topical applications of HA both improve appearance and reduce recurrence rates of keloid scars in the short term. Conclusion: Our review suggests that altered HA production, metabolism, and localization play a key role in keloid and hypertrophic scar pathogenesis. While early evidence supports the potential utility of HA in keloid scar treatment, further robust clinical validation is necessary.

Indexed as

extracellular matrixfibrosishyaluronanhyaluronic acidkeloidscarring

Identifiers

PMID42345033
PMCPMC13286959

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.