Pharmacology of Recombinant Hirudin

Götz Nowak

doi:10.1055/s-2002-35293

Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Table of Contents

Semin Thromb Hemost 2002; 28(5): 415-424
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35293

Pharmacology of Recombinant Hirudin

Götz Nowak

Medical Faculty, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

Abstract

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

Full Text

References

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