Applications of leech therapy in medicine: a systematic review
Systematic review published in Frontiers in medicine (2024)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leech therapy (LT) is one of the most widely used treatment methods in traditional medicine. The present study aimed to systematically review clinical trials regarding the effects of LT on the prevention and healing of different diseases. METHODS: To identify all relevant published studies, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases without any temporal or geographical constraints until April 2023. To categorize the articles, five stages were considered. The PRISMA checklist and Cochran's bias analysis tool were used. RESULTS: In total, 12 trials that met the inclusion criteria were studied. The results of the studies showed that LT has had successful outcomes in treating different conditions. These included hormonal and metabolic complications, cardiovascular problems, and inflammatory-based diseases. CONCLUSION: "Leech therapy" is a traditional medical treatment used successfully to control and treat various conditions. Although this method can have complications, it is possible to benefit from this low-cost and low-complication treatment by taking preventive measures.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Leech therapy (LT) is one of the most widely used treatment methods in traditional medicine. The present study aimed to systematically review clinical trials regarding the effects of LT on the prevention and healing of different diseases.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Esta revisión sistemática examinó ensayos clínicos que investigaron la terapia con sanguijuelas para la prevención y curación de diversas enfermedades, identificando 12 ensayos mediante una búsqueda exhaustiva de tres bases de datos hasta abril de 2023. La revisión es directamente relevante para la hirudoterapia, informando que los ensayos incluidos demostraron resultados exitosos en complicaciones hormonales y metabólicas, problemas cardiovasculares y afecciones de base inflamatoria. Los autores caracterizan la terapia con sanguijuelas como un tratamiento de bajo costo con complicaciones manejables cuando se toman medidas preventivas adecuadas. Sin embargo, el resumen proporciona solo conclusiones sumarias de alto nivel sin reportar medidas de resultado específicas, tamaños del efecto, resultados de la evaluación de sesgo o detalles de los ensayos individuales, lo que limita la capacidad de evaluar la fuerza y consistencia de la base de evidencia subyacente a partir de este resumen únicamente.
Citación
Applications of leech therapy in medicine: a systematic review.
Hosseini M et al. · Frontiers in medicine, 2024
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026