American Society of Hirudotherapy

Coronary thrombosis due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia after percutaneous coronary intervention: Easy to miss, uneasy to prevent

Case report published in Clinical Case Reports (2020)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Case reportClinical TrialsDrug DevelopmentMele M et al. · Clinical Case Reports, 2020

Abstract

In case of unexplained post-PCI coronary thrombosis, a HIT should be always considered. A pragmatic approach with bivalirudin may be reasonable, even in absence of confirmed laboratory diagnosis.

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

Publication typeCase ReportsJournal Article

Summary

Case demonstrating that bivalirudin can be a pragmatic empiric choice for unexplained post-PCI coronary thrombosis suspicious for HIT, even before laboratory confirmation of anti-PF4 antibodies.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This article advises that heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) should always be considered in cases of unexplained post-PCI coronary thrombosis, and suggests that a pragmatic approach with bivalirudin may be reasonable even without confirmed laboratory diagnosis. The abstract discusses bivalirudin as an alternative anticoagulant in this clinical context but provides no detail on its pharmacological origin or relationship to hirudin or leech-derived substances. There is no mention of leeches, leech therapy, or the leech secretome anywhere in the abstract. Accordingly, this article has no defensible or direct relevance to ASH's domain of hirudotherapy or the leech secretome; any connection would be speculative and unsupported by the source text.

Citation

Coronary thrombosis due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia after percutaneous coronary intervention: Easy to miss, uneasy to prevent.

Mele M et al. · Clinical Case Reports, 2020

Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026

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