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Treatment of an acute flush reaction caused by subcutaneous r‐hirudin with pegylated hirudin
Author(s) -
Job Harenberg,
A. Hoffmann,
Huhle,
Xianfang Song,
Hong Wang
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.01837.x
Subject(s) - hirudin , medicine , antibody , pharmacology , heparin , chemistry , thrombin , immunology , platelet , surgery
We report a patient who was treated with recombinant (r)‐hirudin for heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia and developed a flush reaction twice upon re‐exposure to 25 mg of subcutaneous r‐hirudin. Antihirudin IgG antibodies developed. The patient received 50 mg of PEG‐hirudin subcutaneously over 2 days. No side‐effects occurred. The level of IgG antihirudin antibodies increased. Ecarin clotting time and thrombin inhibition S2238 assay were not influenced by the patient's IgG antihirudin antibody. PEG‐hirudin may be used in patients with intolerance to r‐hirudin because of a dissociation of the allergenic and immunogenic properties of the pegylated drug.