Hirudin-based anticoagulant strategies for patients with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions and bypass grafting

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated adverse drug reaction that is associated with thrombotic events of the venous and arterial circulatory systems stemming from an intense and well-characterized prothrombotic triad of platelet activation, coagulation cascade stimulation and vascular endothelial cell injury. Although heparin (or other sulfated mucopolysaccharide compound) cessation represents a vital first step in management, patients remain susceptible to life-threatening thrombosis for up to several weeks, providing a strong rationale for a 'proactive approach' to care that includes prompt initiation of an alternative anticoagulant strategy throughout the high-risk period. The importance of alternative options for anticoagulation is most evident in clinical situations wherein treatment is a recognized standard of care and prerequisite for an optimal outcome. The following review highlights the use of recombinant hirudin (lepirudin) among patients with suspected HIT requiring precutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and coronary arterial bypass grafting.

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

Review of recombinant hirudin (lepirudin) anticoagulant strategies for HIT-suspect patients requiring PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting; emphasizes proactive alternative anticoagulation throughout the multi-week prothrombotic window after heparin cessation.

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

Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой

More peer-reviewed studies in Разработка лекарственных препаратов.

• 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 →