Interference of thrombin in immunological assays for hirudin specific antibodies

Recombinant hirudins (desirudin, lepirudin) are direct thrombin inhibitors administered as anticoagulants for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. Although these small polypeptides are widely used, concern exists over reports of antigenicity. In the largest study of r-hirudin immunogenicity to-date, we evaluated the prevalence, quantity and specificity of IgG immune responses to desirudin (15 mg SC q12h for as long as clinically required) in 245 surgical and medically-ill subjects enrolled in DESIRABLE, a multicenter, open-label, clinical trial of hospitalized patients requiring VTE prophylaxis. Sera obtained before and 30 days after desirudin administration were analyzed for IgG anti-desirudin by immunoenzymetric assay using immobilized desirudin to bind desirudin-reactive antibody and peroxidase conjugated monoclonal-anti-human IgG Fc to detect bound IgG antibody. Of 245 study subjects, 19 (7.7%) were antibody "responders" (>2-fold increase in IgG antibody levels with >50% inhibition by desirudin 30 days post-treatment). There were no differences between responders and non-responders in incidence of clinical outcomes or bleeding-related adverse events. Forty-six patients had detectable desirudin-reactive IgG antibody prior to treatment, with no significant increase in antibody levels after exposure and no increase in clinical events. The origin of pre-existing hirudin-reactive IgG antibody requires further investigation involving suspected anti-thrombin-thrombin interactions. These results indicate a low potential for immunogenicity, with <8% of patients developing IgG antibodies after desirudin administration for VTE prophylaxis. In contrast to reports on lepirudin, production of anti-hirudin antibodies to desirudin has no apparent effect on clinical events.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Recombinant hirudins (desirudin, lepirudin) are direct thrombin inhibitors administered as anticoagulants for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis.

Leech-derived molecules this paper discusses, each with a full profile in the ASH compound registry:

Erfahren Sie, wie diese Forschung mit der klinischen Praxis verknüpft ist

More peer-reviewed studies in Arzneimittelentwicklung.

• Novel Leech Antimicrobial Peptides — Hirunipins — Kumar et al. (2025)
• Medicinal Leech Genome Assembly — Anticoagulant Gene Catalog — Kvist et al. (2020)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Hirudotherapy in Medicine and Dentistry — Jha K et al. (2015)
• Medicinal leech therapy (hirudotherapy): a brief overview — Singh A (2010)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Investigation of oxidant-antioxidant status in patients treated with hirudotherapy: an experimental study — Sarikan I, Savas H (2024)
• Leech therapeutic applications — Abdualkader A et al. (2013)
• Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia Due to Hirudotherapy: A Case Report — Akalın Ç, Ekmen N (2020)
• Leech therapy: a history — Hyson J (2005)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →