Hirudin is a naturally occurring peptide in the salivary glands of medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) that hasa blood anticoagulant property.

Hirudin prevents or dissolves the formation of clots and thrombi (i.e. it has a thrombolytic activity), and has therapeutic value in blood coagulation disorders, in the treatment of skin hematomas and of superficial varicose veins, either as an injectable or a topical application cream.

Hirudin has advantages over more commonly used anticoagulants and thrombolytics, such as heparin, as it does not interfere with the biological activity of other serum proteins and can also act on complexed thrombin.
 

Hirudin is a very promising kind of anticoagulant medicine.

Hirudin can be used to treat various thrombus diseases, especially the treatment of venous thrombosis and diffuse blood vessel coagulation.

Hirudin can also play a role in the treatment of tumor. It can prevent the metastasis of tumor cells, and has been proved to be effective in tumors such as fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, angiosarcoma, melanoma and leukemia.