Scholarlink

Background <p>Leech therapy is used in diverse ways in the medical field, such as for flap salvation and for treatment of osteoarthritis. While bleeding is a recognized adverse effect, severe coagulopathy is rare and underreported, especially when compounded by concurrent anticoagulant use.</p> Case presentation <p>We present a case of a 76-year-old female undergoing leech therapy in combination with systemic heparin for free flap salvage following partial glossectomy and neck dissection. Shortly after initiating both therapies, the patient developed marked coagulopathy, evidenced by prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), elevated thrombin time, and persistent bleeding from the surgical site. Laboratory results suggested synergistic anticoagulant effects of heparin and hirudin, the potent direct thrombin inhibitor secreted by medicinal leeches. Despite discontinuation of systemic heparin, bleeding persisted until leech therapy was halted. The patient received 8 units of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) during the treatment course. Coagulation markers normalized after cessation of leech therapy, with no further bleeding events.</p> Conclusions <p>This case highlights a potentially underrecognized risk of coagulopathy in patients undergoing combined leech and systemic anticoagulation therapy. The mechanistically distinct pathways of heparin and hirudin may act synergistically to impair both free and clot-bound thrombin activity. Given the absence of formal guidelines for coagulopathy monitoring in such cases, we propose daily assessment of coagulation markers including aPTT, PT/INR, and a one-time measurement of thrombin time and anti-Xa levels after treatment initiation. This report underscores the need for standardized protocols and further research to guide safe implementation of leech therapy, particularly in patients receiving systemic anticoagulation.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Case report: Heparin coagulant super-sensitivity during leech therapy

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月2日

查看全文
  • Zhan Rong,
  • Adam Daniels,
  • Kevin Luu,
  • Lukasz Czerwonka,
  • Wadie F. Bahou

摘要

Background

Leech therapy is used in diverse ways in the medical field, such as for flap salvation and for treatment of osteoarthritis. While bleeding is a recognized adverse effect, severe coagulopathy is rare and underreported, especially when compounded by concurrent anticoagulant use.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 76-year-old female undergoing leech therapy in combination with systemic heparin for free flap salvage following partial glossectomy and neck dissection. Shortly after initiating both therapies, the patient developed marked coagulopathy, evidenced by prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), elevated thrombin time, and persistent bleeding from the surgical site. Laboratory results suggested synergistic anticoagulant effects of heparin and hirudin, the potent direct thrombin inhibitor secreted by medicinal leeches. Despite discontinuation of systemic heparin, bleeding persisted until leech therapy was halted. The patient received 8 units of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) during the treatment course. Coagulation markers normalized after cessation of leech therapy, with no further bleeding events.

Conclusions

This case highlights a potentially underrecognized risk of coagulopathy in patients undergoing combined leech and systemic anticoagulation therapy. The mechanistically distinct pathways of heparin and hirudin may act synergistically to impair both free and clot-bound thrombin activity. Given the absence of formal guidelines for coagulopathy monitoring in such cases, we propose daily assessment of coagulation markers including aPTT, PT/INR, and a one-time measurement of thrombin time and anti-Xa levels after treatment initiation. This report underscores the need for standardized protocols and further research to guide safe implementation of leech therapy, particularly in patients receiving systemic anticoagulation.