Evaluation of bivalirudin-based anticoagulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Although unfractionated heparin (UFH) has traditionally been used for anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), bivalirudin may be preferred due to fewer complications. A prior medication use evaluation of ECMO patients who received bivalirudin resulted in dosing updates for our pharmacist-directed bivalirudin protocol. This study intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bivalirudin for anticoagulation during ECMO support post-protocol initiation. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center, pre-post study. Adult patients requiring ECMO support for at least 24 h and who received bivalirudin between January 1, 2015 to July 31, 2018 (pre-group) and May 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021 (post-group) were included. RESULTS: There were 38 patients in the pre- and 35 patients in the post-group. The primary outcome, median time to two consecutive activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs) within therapeutic range for the initial goal range, was 8.9 h in the pre- and 14.2 h in the post-group (p = 0.517). In a subgroup analysis of the post-group, the primary outcome was higher in patients with COVID-19 (26.5 vs. 8.6 h, p = 0.018). The median number of dose adjustments to achieve goal aPTT was higher in COVID-19 patients (4 vs. 2, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a standardized pharmacist-directed protocol for bivalirudin in ECMO achieves timely therapeutic anticoagulation levels. Patients with COVID-19 trended toward longer times to two consecutive therapeutic aPTTs. Further studies are needed to evaluate dosing strategies in patients with and without COVID-19.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Evaluation of bivalirudin-based anticoagulation during ECMO support across patient cohorts including those with COVID-19, comparing bleeding/thrombosis outcomes against heparin-based protocols.

Leech-derived molecules this paper discusses, each with a full profile in the ASH compound registry:

Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica

More peer-reviewed studies in Desarrollo de fármacos.

• Novel Leech Antimicrobial Peptides — Hirunipins — Kumar et al. (2025)
• Medicinal Leech Genome Assembly — Anticoagulant Gene Catalog — Kvist et al. (2020)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Hirudotherapy in Medicine and Dentistry — Jha K et al. (2015)
• Medicinal leech therapy (hirudotherapy): a brief overview — Singh A (2010)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Investigation of oxidant-antioxidant status in patients treated with hirudotherapy: an experimental study — Sarikan I, Savas H (2024)
• Leech therapeutic applications — Abdualkader A et al. (2013)
• Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia Due to Hirudotherapy: A Case Report — Akalın Ç, Ekmen N (2020)
• Leech therapy: a history — Hyson J (2005)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →