Bivalirudin as an Alternative to Heparin for Anticoagulation in Infants and Children.

Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is a useful alternative to heparin for anticoagulation in infants and children. It has been found to be effective in patients requiring treatment of thrombosis, as well as those needing anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal life support, or with a ventricular assist device. While it has traditionally been used in patients who were unresponsive to heparin or who developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, it has recently been studied as a first-line agent. Bivalirudin, unlike heparin, does not require antithrombin to be effective, and as a result, has the potential to provide a more consistent anticoagulation. The case reports and clinical studies currently available suggest that bivalirudin is as effective as heparin at reaching target activated clotting times or activated partial thromboplastin times, with equivalent or the lower rates of bleeding or thromboembolic complications. It is more expensive than heparin, but the cost may be offset by reductions in the costs associated with heparin use, including anti-factor Xa testing and the need for administration of antithrombin. The most significant disadvantage of bivalirudin remains the lack of larger prospective studies demonstrating its efficacy and safety in the pediatric population.

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

Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is a useful alternative to heparin for anticoagulation in infants and children. It has been found to be effective in patients requiring treatment of thrombosis, as well as those needing anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal life...

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 Клинические исследования.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Reverse Sural Flap Venous Congestion Successfully Managed With Enoxaparin in a Male Patient With a Traumatic Foot Crush Injury: A Case Report — Velasco-Bustamante J et al. (2026)
• Investigation of the therapeutic effects of medicinal leech treatment on lower extremity ischemia-reperfusion injury — Ünal K et al. (2026)
• Efficacy of Medicinal Leech Therapy in Diverse Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Study from Azerbaijan — Farzali S et al. (2025)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY: CASE-REPORTS AND REVIEW — Heinz P et al. (2020)
• Hirudotherapy Efficacy and Complications in the Management of Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review — Foppiani J et al. (2024)
• Hirudotherapy in Wound Healing — Nair H et al. (2022)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →