Effect of hirudin on arterialized venous flap survival in rabbits
Research article published in Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2021)
Abstract
Arterialized venous flap (AVF) is limited in clinical application because its survival remains inconsistent and its exact survival mechanism is still unclear. Hirudin is an effective thrombin specific inhibitor, which is isolated from the salivary gland secretions of the leech. Our study evaluated the impact of hirudin on the viability of AVFs in rabbits. Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: sham group (physiological perfusion), control group (AVF), and hirudin group (AVF + hirudin). In hirudin group, 20 antithrombin units (ATU) hirudin (2.5 ml) were injected into each flap. In sham group and control group, the same amount of normal saline was injected into each flap. Status of flap survival, water content, vascular perfusion, histopathology, expression of CD34, VEGF, eNOS and HIF-1α were analyzed in each group. Analysis of oxidative stress was performed by measuring the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Compared with flaps in sham group with physiological perfusion mode, results of survival rate, perfusion status, SOD activity, expression of CD34, VEGF, and eNOS of AVFs in control group were significantly lower, while water content, MDA level and expression of HIF-1α were higher. The flap condition of AVFs injected with hirudin in hirudin group was improved significantly, and the results were similar to sham group. Our findings revealed that hirudin can effectively improve survival of AVF.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Arterialized venous flap (AVF) is limited in clinical application because its survival remains inconsistent and its exact survival mechanism is still unclear.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinó el efecto de la hirudina — un inhibidor específico de la trombina aislado de las secreciones de las glándulas salivales de la sanguijuela — sobre la supervivencia de los colgajos venosos arterializados en un modelo de conejo, evaluando la viabilidad del colgajo, la perfusión vascular, la histopatología, los marcadores angiogénicos y de estrés oxidativo (CD34, VEGF, eNOS, HIF-1α, SOD, MDA) y el contenido de agua tisular entre los grupos simulado, control y tratado con hirudina. Es directamente relevante para el ámbito de ASH porque demuestra que un componente bioactivo clave del secretoma salival de la sanguijuela puede mejorar la supervivencia de colgajos tisulares comprometidos, con los colgajos tratados con hirudina mostrando una perfusión restaurada, una expresión de marcadores angiogénicos y un estado antioxidante que se acercan a los de los controles simulados. Las vías mecanísticas reveladas — la anticoagulación acoplada con la modulación del estrés oxidativo y la angiogénesis — son fundamentales para comprender las terapias derivadas de sanguijuelas. Sin embargo, se trata de un estudio en un modelo animal que utiliza hirudina purificada inyectada en lugar de hirudoterapia con sanguijuelas vivas, y los hallazgos en conejos pueden no traducirse directamente a los resultados reconstructivos en humanos.
Citación
Effect of hirudin on arterialized venous flap survival in rabbits.
Liu J et al. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 2021
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026