Past, present and future of hirudin
Research article published in Haemostasis (1991)
Abstract
The naturally occurring anticoagulant from medicinal leeches, hirudin, which we isolated and biochemically analyzed 30 years ago as a miniprotein with specific antithrombin activity, has afterwards been employed for scientific and diagnostic purposes in hematology. Pure hirudin proved to be an antithrombotic agent of high quality that displays an antithrombotic action dependent upon its blood level. After intravenous injection, it is distributed in the extracellular space and is almost completely eliminated through the kidneys by glomerular filtration in a biologically active form. The efficacy of hirudin in preventing venous and arterial thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation was demonstrated in various animal models. Clinical pharmacological studies corroborated the specific pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of hirudin found in animal experiments. Genetic engineering led to the availability of sufficient quantities of recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) for clinical purposes. Pharmacologic profiling of r-hirudin showed that both its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics are very similar to those of native hirudin. Clinical pharmacological studies with r-hirudin revealed that, at single therapeutically relevant doses, r-hirudin is a well-tolerated and potent anticoagulant without any detectable side effects and allergic reactions. Further preclinical studies of r-hirudin should concentrate on identifying possible indications for use, on the development of r-hirudin preparations and derivatives, and on the development of antidotes for hirudin.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Past, present and future of hirudin.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This article reviews the historical isolation, pharmacological profiling, and future clinical potential of hirudin, the naturally occurring anticoagulant found in medicinal leeches. It highlights hirudin's transition from a scientific reagent to a high-quality antithrombotic agent, noting its renal clearance, extracellular distribution, and the development of well-tolerated recombinant formulations (r-hirudin) devoid of allergic side effects. This review is inherently central to the ASH domain, providing a comprehensive historical and pharmacological overview of the most famous leech-derived therapeutic. The caveat is that this is a historical review focused on the isolated and
Citation
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