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Semin Thromb Hemost 2002; 28(5): 415-424
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35293
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Pharmacology of Recombinant Hirudin

Götz Nowak
  • Medical Faculty, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
06 November 2002 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Hirudin is the anticoagulative product of the salivary glands of the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis. It is characterized by a direct, bifunctional inhibition mechanism and a high, exclusive specificity and a strong ability to bind to thrombin (tight binding). Further characteristics are the organic-chemical structure of hirudin (peptide), which allows only parenteral administration; the missing metabolism in the organism; and the exclusive glomerular filtration of hirudin in kidneys as the effective elimination mechanism. Recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) is a product of genetic engineering that is identical to the hirudin found in nature and has the same biochemical and pharmacological characteristics as natural hirudin.

KEYWORDS

r-hirudin - pharmacology - pharmacokinetics - ECT

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