American Society of Hirudotherapy
Bleeding / Transfusion Risk
Aeromonas Infection Risk
Single-Use Only + Biohazard Disposal

Research Library

Curated reviews of peer-reviewed research relevant to hirudotherapy

Last Updated: May 27, 2026Reviewed by: Andrei Dokukin, MD
Research knowledge base

ASH structured research registries

In addition to 10051+ long-form research articles below, ASH curates 5 structured registries with cross-linking:

Editorial transparency & research roadmap

ASH treats this library as a living dataset. Current import baseline: 10051 long-form articles plus 449 metadata-imported PubMed/DOI records, with a public 10,000-article ingestion target. The pages below explain how we grade evidence, what PMIDs are still unverified, and where the corpus is going next.

Last updated: June 18, 2026

The ASH Research Library currently indexes 269 peer-reviewed publications relevant to hirudotherapy, spanning clinical trials, microsurgery outcomes, genomics & proteomics, drug development, salivary pharmacology, and safety & infection control. Each article carries a full citation and a link to the primary source where available. A curated subset (50+ entries) is fully annotated in Hirudopedia by condition, evidence grade, and study design.

Evidence discipline

All articles are reviewed against primary sources. Preclinical research is clearly distinguished from clinical evidence. Regulatory context (FDA-cleared vs. investigational) is noted where applicable.

Research categories

Antimicrobial Resistance

AMPs, antibiotic synergy, and novel approaches to drug-resistant pathogens.

248 articles

Salivary Pharmacology

Bioactive compounds in leech saliva — discovery, characterization, and therapeutic potential.

967 articles

Drug Development

Bench-to-bedside translation of leech-derived compounds.

3,263 articles

Clinical Trials

Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews of leech therapy outcomes.

6,465 articles

Safety & Infection Control

Aeromonas surveillance, prophylaxis protocols, and adverse event data.

994 articles

Genomics & Proteomics

Omics-based discovery of novel leech salivary proteins and their functions.

807 articles

All articles

Recent research articles carrying original, peer-reviewed ASH analysis. See the full index of all 515 analysed articles, or search the complete 10,051-article corpus in the Smart Library (faceted by topic, evidence grade, year, and verification status).

Comparison of bleeding and thrombotic outcomes in veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Heparin versus bivalirudin

Drug Development

Kartika et al. (2024) — European journal of haematology

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Argatroban anticoagulation for heparin induced thrombocytopenia in patients with ventricular assist devices

Drug Development

Pappalardo et al. (2012) — Minerva anestesiologica

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Heparin-induced thrombosis with a normal platelet count

Clinical Trials

Alvarez et al. (2007) — Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Effects of Bivalirudin and Unfractionated Heparin on Liver and Renal Function in Chinese Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Coronary Angiography with/without Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Drug Development

Jia et al. (2021) — Journal of clinical and translational hepatology

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Association Between Argatroban and Outcomes of Branch Atheromatous Disease: A Propensity-Matched Analysis From MRI-Based Study

Drug Development

Li et al. (2025) — CNS neuroscience & therapeutics

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Safety and efficacy of argatroban combined with antiplatelet therapy for acute mild-to-moderate ischemic stroke with large artery atherosclerosis

Drug Development

Yan et al. (2025) — Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Delayed-onset eptifibatide-induced thrombocytopenia

Clinical Trials

Huffman et al. (2024) — American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Clinical impact of kidney function in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulants

Clinical Trials

Matsuoka et al. (2025) — International journal of cardiology

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Renal outcomes following oral anticoagulation in non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A multicentre, propensity-matched retrospective analysis in an Asian population

Clinical Trials

Koh et al. (2025) — Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Effectiveness and Safety in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Who Switched from Warfarin to Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Medicare Population

Clinical Trials

Atreja et al. (2025) — Advances in therapy

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Population pharmacokinetics of unfractionated heparin and multivariable analysis of activated clotting time in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation

Drug Development

Konecki et al. (2024) — Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Bleeding Associated With Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Using Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Nationwide Population Cohort Study

Clinical Trials

Wu et al. (2024) — Journal of the American Heart Association

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Different Anticoagulants in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Clinical Trials

Waseem et al. (2026) — Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis : official journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

PROS1 (Cys228Tyr) missense mutation associated with mesenteric and pulmonary venous thromboembolism during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case report

Clinical Trials

Huang et al. (2025) — Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Comparison of VTE prophylaxis agents on hemoglobin levels after total knee arthroplasty: a hospital information system-based observational study

Safety & Infection Control

Yuan et al. (2025) — Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research

Peer-reviewed safety and infection-control research relevant to leech therapy and microsurgical wound management. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis Secondary to Gastric Cancer: A Case Report

Clinical Trials

Takano et al. (2026) — Cureus

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis: The evolution of anticoagulant choice and clinical insights into practical management

Clinical Trials

Riess et al. (2021) — Critical reviews in oncology/hematology

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

An update on the efficacy and safety of novel anticoagulants for cancer associated thrombosis

Clinical Trials

Cosmi (2021) — Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Efficacy and safety of Xa inhibitors for the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism

Drug Development

Kimpton et al. (2019) — Expert opinion on drug safety

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Peak and Trough Concentration Ranges of Factor Xa Inhibitors for Preventing Thromboembolic Stroke in Korean Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Drug Development

Park et al. (2026) — Annals of laboratory medicine

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Real-world evidence comparing oral anticoagulants for NVAF in Europe: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Clinical Trials

Cichewicz et al. (2025) — Future cardiology

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Edoxaban-Induced Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome: A Case Report With Review of the Literature

Drug Development

Borgonovo et al. (2024) — Cureus

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Optimizing warfarin dosing for patients with atrial fibrillation using machine learning

Drug Development

Petch et al. (2024) — Scientific reports

Peer-reviewed pharmacology and drug-development research relevant to anticoagulants and leech-derived compounds. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Read analysis →

Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Clinical Trials

Douketis et al. (2012) — Chest

This guideline addresses the management of patients who are receiving anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy and require an elective surgery or procedure. The methods herein follow those discussed in the Methodology for the Development of Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis Guidelines.

Read analysis →

Suggest a paper for review

Know of a significant publication relevant to hirudotherapy? We welcome suggestions for our research library.

Contact us →

This website provides educational information and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Medicinal leech therapy carries clinically meaningful risks and should be performed only by qualified clinicians under institutionally approved protocols. FDA 510(k) clearance for medicinal leeches is limited to specific indications; investigational and off-label discussions are labeled accordingly. For patient-specific guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider.