Self-regulated hirudin delivery for anticoagulant therapy

Anticoagulant activity of synthetic hirudin peptides.

Synthetic peptides based on the COOH-terminal 21 residues of hirudin were prepared in order to 1) evaluate the role of this segment in hirudin action toward thrombin, 2) define the shortest peptide derivative with anticoagulant activity, and 3) investigate the role of tyrosine sulfation in the peptides' inhibitory activities. A hirudin derivative of 20 amino acids, Hir45-64 (derived from residu...

Hirudin as an anticoagulant for both haematology and chemistry tests

Hirudin, an extract from the leech, has powerful antithrombin activity affecting the blood coagulation pathway. We evaluated the usefulness of hirudin in anticoagulating specimens for routine laboratory tests. Results using blood anticoagulated with hirudin corresponded well with results with blood treated with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in the complete blood count (CBC), including...

The Case for Anticoagulant Therapy

PERHAPS it is best to introduce this discussion with a few general statements to clarify the position which we have maintained throughout the past years. We have held that anticoagulant therapy for myocardial infarction does not constitute tlhe ultimate, the comprehensive, or even an entirely satisfactory form of therapy for this condition. If research directed at the prevention or reversal of ...

Self management of oral anticoagulant therapy after heart valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE Patients with mechanical heart valves require lifelong oral anticoagulant treatment which entails frequent blood sampling and dosage adjustment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of letting heart valve operated patients manage blood specimen analysis and dosage adjustment themselves. METHODS A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study and followed fo...

Audit of anticoagulant therapy.