A través de la historia se han atribuido diversas propiedades terapéuticas a la sanguijuela Hirudo medicinalis; durante los últimos 20 años ha demostrado ser una alternativa terapéutica efectiva en el alivio de la congestión venosa posoperatoria, especialmente en cirugías reconstructivas. En México, esta práctica ha sido limitada debido a la falta de abastecimiento y al tardado proceso de importación de esta sanguijuela, por lo que el bioterio del Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente-IMSS en Guadalajara, Jalisco, ha iniciado un programa de reproducción de esta especie. Hirudo medicinalis es útil en el ámbito médico por su habilidad de morder profundamente y causar un sangrado prolongado tras su desprendimiento. Entre las propiedades fisiológicas de su glándula salival se encuentra uno de los anticoagulantes naturales más potentes, la hirudina, un vasodilatador semejante a la histamina, así como inhibidores de la agregación plaquetaria y proteasas altamente específicas, que favorecen el drenaje venoso y mejora el flujo arterial. Sin embargo, el uso de la hirudoterapia se ha asociado con morbilidad considerable, por lo que es primordial conocer los riesgos potenciales y las precauciones necesarias.
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