Nitric oxide in the ECMO circuit as a treatment option for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A case report

IntroductionExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) involves the use of a synthetic circuit, which initiates a complex interplay of inflammatory and pro-coagulant responses. This intricate, self-reinforcing process results in a prothrombotic state, predisposing patients to arterial, venous, or oxygenator thrombosis. Unfractionated heparin is the standard anticoagulant chosen in ECMO patients to prevent such complications.Case ReportIn this case report our patient presented heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a possible complication.DiscussionAlternative strategies such as bivalirudin and argatroban are possible options but due the unavailability of those medications at our institution, nitric oxide (NO) via sweep-gas flow was deemed a reasonable alternative considering it's anti-aggregant effect.ConclusionThis case report details the use of NO as a possible alternative anticoagulant strategy in a patient with ECMO complicated by HIT.

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

Reports use of sweep-gas nitric oxide as an unconventional anti-aggregant alternative on the ECMO circuit when bivalirudin and argatroban were unavailable to manage HIT during ECMO.

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 →