Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42404285›Full record

ArticleTransplantation direct2026

Immunosuppression-free Nonvascularized Rectus Fascia Allotransplantation for Complex Hernia Repair.

Laurens J Ceulemans, Ewout Muylle, Gert De Hertogh, Cedric Vanluyten, Antoine Dubois, Jan Van Slambrouck, Caroline Boelhouwer, Marina Gabriela M C Mori da Cunha, Ina Hennion, Antoine Weisrock and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Transplantation direct, 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

20 authors.

Laurens J CeulemansDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4261-7100
Ewout MuylleLaboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Gert De HertoghLeuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Cedric VanluytenDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Antoine DuboisLeuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Jan Van SlambrouckDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Caroline BoelhouwerLeuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Marina Gabriela M C Mori da CunhaLaboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Ina HennionTissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, KULAK campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium.
Antoine WeisrockTissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, KULAK campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium.
Lieven ThorrezTissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, KULAK campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium.
Ina BenoyHistocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium.
Steffi De PelsmaekerHistocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium.
Angelica PagliazziDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Maarten NaesensDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Nathalie P DefermDepartment of Abdominal Surgery, Sint-Franciscus Ziekenhuis, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
Albert WolthuisLeuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
André D HooreDepartment of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Jacques PirenneLeuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Nele Van De WinkelDepartment of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Complex abdominal wall herniations present major reconstructive challenges, particularly in patients with contaminated fields or previous failed repairs. Synthetic meshes carry substantial infection risk, whereas biological meshes are expensive and exhibit inconsistent long-term strength, leaving many patients without dependable options. This study investigates the feasibility, safety, and immunologic profile of nonvascularized rectus fascia allotransplantation (NVRF-alloTx) for abdominal wall reconstruction in immunocompetent individuals. Methods: We conducted a prospective single-center case series of 3 immunocompetent patients who underwent elective NVRF-alloTx between 2024 and 2025 at a tertiary academic hospital. Candidates had complex or contaminated defects that were unsuitable for synthetic or biologic mesh repair. Primary outcomes were durable abdominal wall closure, graft-related complications, and immunologic responses measured by donor-specific antibody screening. Secondary assessments included radiologic evaluation, biomechanical testing, histologic integration, and chimerism analysis in 1 patient whose graft was explanted postmortem. Results: All patients achieved successful abdominal wall closure without hernia recurrence or graft failure during follow-up. Two developed de novo class I or II anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies. One patient died from unrelated cardiac disease 2 mo postoperatively; graft analysis demonstrated robust fibrovascular integration, limited T-cell infiltration, and biomechanical properties comparable to native fascia. Conclusion: This early clinical experience demonstrates that NVRF-alloTx without immunosuppression can provide durable, mechanically stable abdominal wall reconstruction in high-risk immunocompetent patients. Despite measurable alloimmune sensitization, graft function remained intact. NVRF may represent a viable alternative in contaminated settings where traditional mesh-based strategies are contraindicated. Further study is needed to confirm long-term outcomes.

Identifiers

PMID42404285
PMCPMC13331424

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.