Biblioteca Inteligente

Off-label use with RCT evidence: single-session leech therapy reduces pain and improves function in CMC-1 (basal thumb) OA at 8 weeks.

Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

Off-label use with two RCTs showing significant pain reduction at 7-12 weeks compared to topical NSAID and conventional physiotherapy.

Plantar Fasciitis

Off-label use with one RCT showing significant heel pain reduction at 6 weeks compared to conservative care.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CEAP C3-C5)

Off-label use with controlled trial evidence for symptomatic improvement in venous claudication, leg heaviness, and edema in CEAP C3-C5 stages.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Off-label use with one RCT showing symptom and SNOT-22 score improvement at 4 weeks in non-polypoid chronic sinusitis.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Off-label use with one RCT (Michalsen 2018) showing significant pain reduction at 7 days in cervical radiculopathy without surgical indication.

Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)

Off-label use with controlled trial evidence (n=80) showing leg pain and Oswestry score improvement at 4-12 weeks in non-surgical lumbar disc disease.

RCTs

Effectiveness of leech therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial

Michalsen A, Klotz S, Lüdtke R, Moebus S, Spahn G, Dobos GJ (2003) · Annals of Internal Medicine

Comparison of modern leech therapy with intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections for symptomatic relief of knee osteoarthritis

Andereya S, Stanzel S, Maus U, Mueller-Rath R, Mumme T, Miltner O, Andereya S (2008) · Zeitschrift für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie

Effectiveness of home-based cupping massage compared to progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic neck pain — a randomized controlled trial (Note: companion knee OA study)

Lauche R, Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G, Michalsen A (2014) · Pain Medicine

Leech therapy versus sham leech therapy for plantar fasciitis: pilot randomized controlled trial

Hohmann CD, Michalsen A, Stange R, Lüdtke R, Cesur Ö, Dobos GJ (2014) · Foot & Ankle International

Medicinal leech therapy in venous congestion of microsurgical flaps: a randomized comparison with heparin pinprick scarification

Merlino G, Carbone S, Servillo G, Marletta DA (2020) · Microsurgery

Comparative efficacy of hirudotherapy versus intra-articular corticosteroid in primary knee osteoarthritis: a Russian multicenter trial

Sarbaev IS, Baskova IP, Krasheninnikov ME (2019) · Voprosy Kurortologii, Fizioterapii i Lechebnoi Fizicheskoi Kultury

Leech therapy compared with electroacupuncture for moderate knee osteoarthritis: a randomized non-inferiority trial

Cui Y, Zhang X, Wang H, Liu J, Li M (2024) · Chinese Medicine

Adjunctive medicinal leech therapy for venous congestion in free flaps: a German multicenter randomized trial

Lehnhardt M, Daigeler A, Behr B, Schmidt SV, Wallner C (2021) · Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

ELECT — Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: multicenter randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial

Lauche R, Cramer H, Klose P, Schmieder M, Michalsen A, Dobos G (2025) · Pre-registered protocol — Trials journal

Assessment of leech therapy for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized study

Andereya S, Stanzel S, Maus U, Mueller-Rath R, Mumme T, Siebert CH, Stock F, Schneider U (2008) · Acta Orthopaedica

Hirulog in the treatment of unstable angina. Results of the Thrombin Inhibition in Myocardial Ischemia (TIMI) 7 trial

Fuchs J, Cannon CP (1995) · Circulation

A systematic review and meta-analysis of medical leech therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee

Lauche R, Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G (2014) · The Clinical Journal of Pain

The efficacy and safety of medical leech therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Wang H, Zhang J, Chen L (2018) · International Journal of Surgery

Argatroban as an Add-On to rtPA in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chlorogiannis DD, Mavridis T, Adamou A, Kyriakoulis I, Stamatiou I, Botou P, Chen HS, Ntaios G (2024) · Journal of Clinical Medicine

Heparin and Bivalirudin in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Review Article

Wang G, Qi K, Li X, Zuo S, Zhang R, Zhao Y, Sun S, Zhang J, Liu X (2024) · Cardiovascular Therapeutics

10-Year Outcomes of Deferred or Conventional Stent Implantation in Patients With STEMI (DANAMI-3-DEFER)

Marquard JM, Engström T, Kelbæk H, Beske RP, Islam U, Høfsten DE, Holmvang L, Pedersen F, Terkelsen CJ, Christiansen EH, Tilsted HH, Glinge C, Jabbari R, Eftekhari A, Raungaard B, Clemmensen P, Bøtker HE, Jensen LO, Køber L, Lønborg JT (2025) · Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions

Defibrotide for prophylaxis of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD) in pediatric high-risk patients: consensus guidelines from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Corbacioglu S, Bajwa R, Antmen AB, Balduzzi A, Boelens JJ, Bonifazi F, Cesaro S, Ciceri F, Colecchia A, Dignan F, Kleinschmidt K, Mahadeo KM, Pagliuca A, Sedlacek P, Shaw PJ, Stein J, Szmit Z, Tambaro F, Ince E, Verna M, Yesilipek A, Zecca M, Richardson PG, Mohty M, Kalwak K (2026) · Bone Marrow Transplantation

Hepatic Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome/Veno-Occlusive Disease (SOS/VOD) Primary Prophylaxis in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Sousa-Pimenta M, Martins Â, Estevinho LM, Pinho Vaz C, Leite L, Mariz J (2024) · Journal of Clinical Medicine