Cutaneous pseudolymphoma as a rare adverse effect of medicinal leech therapy: a case report and review of the literature
Case report published in Cureus (2020)
Abstract
Hirudotherapy (leech therapy) is one of the oldest practices in medical history, and nowadays it is used for several purposes in medicine. Salvage of flaps, wound healing, pain management, and treatment of varicose veins are among the common therapeutic applications of leeches. Complications associated with leech therapy include infections, bleeding, anemia, and allergic reaction. Cutaneous pseudolymphoma (benign proliferation of lymphoid cells in the skin) follows several underlying conditions. Although persistent arthropod bite reaction is one of the conditions associated with cutaneous pseudolymphoma, it has been rarely reported after medicinal leech therapy. Here we describe the case of a patient who presented with cutaneous pseudolymphoma after leech therapy as a rare cutaneous complication of hirudotherapy.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Case of cutaneous pseudolymphoma after hirudotherapy, reviewing the rare adverse-effect spectrum (infection, bleeding, anemia, allergic reactions, pseudolymphoma) of leech therapy.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This case report describes a patient who developed cutaneous pseudolymphoma—a benign proliferation of lymphoid cells in the skin—as a rare cutaneous complication following medicinal leech therapy. The abstract notes that hirudotherapy is used for flap salvage, wound healing, pain management, and varicose vein treatment, and that known complications include infections, bleeding, anemia, and allergic reactions, with cutaneous pseudolymphoma being a rarely reported additional adverse effect. This is directly relevant to ASH's domain as it documents a cutaneous safety concern of hirudotherapy. The primary limitation is that this is a single case report of an uncommon reaction, so no generalizable incidence data or risk factors can be inferred from the abstract.
Citación
Cutaneous pseudolymphoma as a rare adverse effect of medicinal leech therapy: a case report and review of the literature.
Sepaskhah M et al. · Cureus, 2020
Contexto clínico relacionado
Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica
Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026