American Society of Hirudotherapy

Non-anticoagulant factors affecting coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation circuit and the development of an individualized regional citrate anticoagulation protocol for hemodialysis: A real-world retrospective study

Research article published in The International journal of artificial organs (2023)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Research reportClinical TrialsHu et al. · The International journal of artificial organs, 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate non-anticoagulant factors that affect blood coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation (ECC) circuit of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) protocol for hemodialysis (HD). METHOD: The clinical characteristics of patients undergoing an individualized RCA protocol for HD between February 2021 and March 2022 were collected; Coagulation scores, pressures in various parts of the ECC circuit, the incidence of coagulation, and citrate concentrations in the ECC circuit during treatment were determined, and non-anticoagulant factors affecting coagulation in the ECC circuit were analyzed. RESULT: The lowest clotting rate was 2.8% in patients with arteriovenous fistula in various vascular access. Patients on Fresenius dialysis had a lower rate of clotting in the cardiopulmonary bypass line than patients on other brands of dialyzer. Low-throughput dialyzers are less likely to clot than high-throughput dialyzers. There are significant differences in the incidence of coagulation among different nurses during citrate anticoagulant hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: In the process of citrate anticoagulant hemodialysis, non-anticoagulant factors such as coagulation status, vascular access, dialyzer selection, and operator quality will affect the anticoagulant effect.

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

Publication typeJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsHumansCitric AcidAnticoagulantsRetrospective StudiesRenal DialysisBlood CoagulationCitratesExtracorporeal Circulation

Summary

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This real-world retrospective study examined non-anticoagulant factors influencing clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during regional citrate anticoagulation for hemodialysis, reporting that vascular access type (lowest clotting with arteriovenous fistula), dialyzer brand and throughput (low-throughput dialyzers clotted less), and operator/nurse differences all affected circuit coagulation independent of the anticoagulant itself. Its link to hirudotherapy is only the general theme that maintaining blood flow against clotting depends on more than the anticoagulant dose; it concerns dialysis hardware and workflow, not medicinal leeches. Caveat: this is a single-center retrospective dialysis study with no leech-therapy content, so it is peripheral background on anticoagulation practice rather than evidence relevant to hirudotherapy.

Citation

Non-anticoagulant factors affecting coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation circuit and the development of an individualized regional citrate anticoagulation protocol for hemodialysis: A real-world retrospective study.

Hu et al. · The International journal of artificial organs, 2023

Added to ASH library: May 28, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026

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