Research Library
Curated reviews of peer-reviewed research relevant to hirudotherapy
ASH structured research registries
In addition to 10059+ long-form research articles below, ASH curates 5 structured registries with cross-linking:
Editorial transparency & research roadmap
ASH treats this library as a living dataset. Current import baseline: 10059 long-form articles plus 449 metadata-imported PubMed/DOI records, with a public 10,000-article ingestion target. The pages below explain how we grade evidence, what PMIDs are still unverified, and where the corpus is going next.
Last updated: March 18, 2026
The ASH Research Library currently indexes 269 peer-reviewed publications relevant to hirudotherapy, spanning clinical trials, microsurgery outcomes, genomics & proteomics, drug development, salivary pharmacology, and safety & infection control. Each article carries a full citation and a link to the primary source where available. A curated subset (50+ entries) is fully annotated in Hirudopedia by condition, evidence grade, and study design.
Evidence discipline
Research categories
Antimicrobial Resistance
AMPs, antibiotic synergy, and novel approaches to drug-resistant pathogens.
248 articles
Salivary Pharmacology
Bioactive compounds in leech saliva — discovery, characterization, and therapeutic potential.
968 articles
Drug Development
Bench-to-bedside translation of leech-derived compounds.
3,264 articles
Clinical Trials
Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews of leech therapy outcomes.
6,472 articles
Safety & Infection Control
Aeromonas surveillance, prophylaxis protocols, and adverse event data.
1,000 articles
Genomics & Proteomics
Omics-based discovery of novel leech salivary proteins and their functions.
808 articles
All articles
Showing the 24 most recently added articles. Search or browse all 10,059 articles in the Smart Library (faceted search by topic, evidence grade, year, and verification status), or by category above.
Function of the waterfowl nests as reproduction and living areas for leeches (Annelida: Hirudinea)
Genomics & ProteomicsCeylan et al. (2021) — Animal reproduction science
Peer-reviewed genomics, proteomics, and molecular research relevant to leech biology and salivary compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Correction to: Bacterial Community of the Digestive Tract of the European Medicinal Leech (Hirudo verbana) from the Danube River
Safety & Infection ControlNeupane et al. (2019) — Microbial ecology
Peer-reviewed safety and infection-control research relevant to leech therapy and microsurgical wound management. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Draft Genome Sequence of Pedobacter sp. Strain Hv1, an Isolate from Medicinal Leech Mucosal Castings
Genomics & ProteomicsOtt et al. (2015) — Genome announcements
Peer-reviewed genomics, proteomics, and molecular research relevant to leech biology and salivary compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Effect of medicinal leeches' antigens on the proliferative response of human blood mononuclear cells and cytokine production in vitro
Clinical TrialsFrolov et al. (2015) — Annals of parasitology
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Complete Genome Sequence of the Novel Leech Symbiont Mucinivorans hirudinis M3T
Genomics & ProteomicsNelson et al. (2015) — Genome announcements
Peer-reviewed genomics, proteomics, and molecular research relevant to leech biology and salivary compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Spatial and temporal population dynamics of a naturally occurring two-species microbial community inside the digestive tract of the medicinal leech
Genomics & ProteomicsKikuchi et al. (2007) — Applied and environmental microbiology
Peer-reviewed genomics, proteomics, and molecular research relevant to leech biology and salivary compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Venous engorged tissue flaps treated with medicinal leeches
Clinical TrialsRodgers et al. (1992) — Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Leech therapy in the management of acute venous congestion of an infant's lower limb
Clinical TrialsWeinfeld et al. (1998) — Plastic and reconstructive surgery
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Bivalirudin for unsalvageable venous congestion or obstruction in head and neck free flap reconstruction
Drug DevelopmentHarris et al. (2024) — Oral oncology
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Recombinant hirudin and PAR-1 regulate macrophage polarisation status in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Drug DevelopmentPei et al. (2024) — BMC biotechnology
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Comment on: Bivalirudin during thrombolysis with catheter-directed tPA in a heparin-refractory patient: A case report
Drug DevelopmentHan (2024) — Pediatric blood & cancer
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Bivalirudin: The misunderstood alternative to heparin
Drug DevelopmentFaraoni et al. (2024) — Paediatric anaesthesia
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Unresponsiveness of Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time to Bivalirudin in Adults Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Drug DevelopmentJatis et al. (2024) — ASAIO journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Protein-Engineered Hirudins with Enhanced Anticoagulant Activities Developed by a Molecular Integrative Approach
Clinical TrialsSun et al. (2024) — Journal of medicinal chemistry
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Use of bivalirudin after initial heparin management among adult patients on long-term venovenous extracorporeal support as a bridge to lung transplant: A case series
Drug DevelopmentHalawi et al. (2024) — Pharmacotherapy
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Bivalirudin Stability in Citrated Plasma and Citrated Whole Blood
Drug DevelopmentBruzdoski et al. (2024) — Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Comparison of bleeding and thrombotic outcomes in veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Heparin versus bivalirudin
Drug DevelopmentKartika et al. (2024) — European journal of haematology
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Management of Bivalirudin Dosing and Replacement Fluid During Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Drug DevelopmentChomat et al. (2024) — ASAIO journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Editorial: Bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in acute myocardial infarction: Why are we still debating?
Drug DevelopmentCohen et al. (2024) — Cardiovascular revascularization medicine : including molecular interventions
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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One-year clinical outcomes of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention
Drug DevelopmentLi et al. (2023) — Diabetes & metabolic syndrome
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Editorial: Bivalirudin with post-procedural infusion: Should the Guidelines change to keep up with the data?
Drug DevelopmentLipinski (2023) — Cardiovascular revascularization medicine : including molecular interventions
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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The effect of bivalirudin on coagulation function in male patients with coronary heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Drug DevelopmentDequan et al. (2023) — Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Anticoagulation strategies in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A network meta-analysis and systematic review
Clinical TrialsChen et al. (2023) — Pharmacotherapy
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Anticoagulation Management in Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices
Clinical TrialsYin (2023) — Texas Heart Institute journal
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
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Suggest a paper for review
Know of a significant publication relevant to hirudotherapy? We welcome suggestions for our research library.
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