[The medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis: clinical use of the animal and therapeutic prospects of hirudin].
Blood sucking leech, Hirudo medicinalis, used in Medicine for very long, knew an intensive employment during early 18e century but its excess was responsible of the temporary disparition of the animal from the therapeutics. Leech has currently recovered a clinical use, especially in microsurgery. On the other hand, hirudin, main active compound isolated from leech extract and also known and used for long, offers interesting outlooks by its anticoagulant and antithrombic properties. This explains the great interest of hirudin preparation by molecular genetics.
Faculté des Sciences pharmaceutiques et biologiques, Dijon.
J M
JM
Henriot
B
B
Chaillot
L
L
Rochette
P
P
Labrude
D000818:Animals; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D024764:Hirudin Therapy; D006629:Hirudins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis
D006629:Hirudins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
La sangsue Hirudo medicinalis: utilisations cliniques de l'animal et perspectives thérapeutiques de l'hirudine.