Recombinant hirudin in clinical practice: focus on lepirudin

Clinical applications for recombinant hirudins have been investigated for the past 10 years. The first indication for which a hirudin-lepirudin-has been approved is treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Also, the recently completed trials for use of lepirudin in unstable angina indicate a potentially new indication. This review describes pharmacology and clinical applications of lepirudin with an emphasis on HIT and unstable angina. An overview of usage of lepirudin in acute coronary syndromes is given, as well as a summary of rare indications for lepirudin, such as extracorporeal circulation, for which comprehensive data are lacking.

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This review covers lepirudin, the first approved recombinant hirudin, for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, its pharmacology, completed unstable angina trials suggesting a new indication, acute coronary syndrome use, and rare applications such as extracorporeal circulation where comprehensive data are lacking.

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