Leech Application-related Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report

Abstract

Leech therapy (Hirudotherapy) is a method used in the treatment of many diseases since ancient times.Although many complications have been reported following the use of this method, no systemic life-threateningbleeding has yet been described. A-43-year-old male patient was diagnosed with upper gastrointestinalbleeding following leech application that he had received for infertility one week earlier. The complications ofhirudotherapy typically spontaneously improve due to the local effects of this treatment. The most frequentlyreported complications are local infections, and less commonly allergies and prolonged local bleeding canoccur. However, in this case report, we describe a life-threatening upper gastrointestinal bleeding as a newcomplication. Gastrointestinal bleeding appearing a week after leech therapy does not necessarily meanthat leeches caused gastrointestinal bleeding in this case. Nevertheless, considering the development timeof gastrointestinal bleeding, it can be deduced that it was possibly due to hirudotherapy. Patients should beinformed about alarming symptoms that can indicate complications following leech application.

Keywords

• prolonged bleeding
• hirudotherapy bleeding
• hirudin bleeding
• complication of hirudotherapy