Leech Therapy, Thrombophlebitis and Varicose Veins

Thrombophlebitis and Varicose Veins

Before the advent of heparin, leech therapy was an established method for acute treatment of deep leg vein thrombosis and superficial thrombophlebitis. Many older nurses and doctors from different departments remember using leeches to treat such cases. With the arrival of heparin, which was before the age of randomized controlled studies, leech therapy quickly lost much of its former significance, but it has still retained significance as a niche application for treatment of symptomatic varicosis and superficial thrombophlebitis in medical practice. A multitude of case studies and case series on this subject can be found in the older internal medicine literature. Bottenberg's book on leech therapy was an authoritative work of the times. Indian researchers used technology-based methods for objective classification of the effects of leech therapy in a more recent uncontrolled clinical trial in 20 patients with venous ulcers in patients with complicated varicose veins. A single leech application reportedly led to a significant anti-edematous effect in 19 out of 20 patients and produced healing of the previously refractory venous ulcers in all patients studied. Because of the lack of a control group, it is not possible to determine whether the effect of leech therapy was a specific effect. There are no other uncontrolled or controlled studies on this subject. As in many other diseases, years of successful traditional practice provide a broad base of empirical evidence of efficacy, but only little evidence that fulfils the criteria of evidence-based medicine. Controlled studies must therefore be performed in order to obtain a more specific efficacy assessment. Since leech therapy does not have cosmetic effects on varicose veins and because effective physical methods for edema treatment are available, these studies should concentrate on the efficacy of leeching in alleviating the symptoms of varicose veins and in healing venous ulcers. However, these studies cannot be conducted without financial support. Sufficient research funding is crucial for achieving scientific proof of the efficacy of leech therapy.

A. Michalsen

Venous Disease; Varicose Veins

Venous disease is one of the best-established traditional indications for  leech therapy. There is a plethora of case reports and empirical studies on  the subject, including clinical investigations of the efficacy of leeching for  postoperative prevention of thrombosis before the advent of heparin, which  is now the standard prophylactic agent. The postoperative use of leeches  for prevention of thrombosis was proposed by the French surgeon Termier  as far back as the 1920s. His recommendation was first adopted in France  and was later implemented successfully in numerous hospitals around the  world. In addition to its fibrinolytic and viscosity-enhancing effects in the  blood, leeching also has bactericidal and some spasmolytic activity that may  have a very positive effect on the patient's general condition. Leeching was  therefore a permanent institution at many hospitals for many years and was  readily performed even though it was relatively time-consuming in terms of  changing the dressing and caring for the animals.

In the end, comparative studies from this period were unable to demonstrate that leech therapy could reliably prevent thromboembolism. This was  presumably due to the unreliable pharmacokinetics and poorly controllable anticoagulatory effects of leeching. After the advent of heparin, leeching  rapidly lost its foothold in thrombosis prophylaxis and is no longer used  for this indication today. In deep vein thrombosis, the systemic effects of  leeches are insufficient; hence, it must be assumed that they do not have  any relevant systemic fibrinolytic activity. In modern medicine, the use of  leeches for adjuvant treatment of acute deep leg vein thrombosis cannot be  justified because the established drugs used for initial anticoagulation constitute a contraindication for leeching.

In venous disease, medicinal leech therapy can be recommended for treatment of acute superficial phlebitis and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)  associated with varicose veins and postthrombotic symptom complex. Leech  therapy is particularly useful for symptomatic treatment of varicose veins.  Although it cannot eliminate the venous dilatation and valvular insufficiency  of varicosis, leeching is valued as a tool for quickly alleviating the symptoms  associated with the disease. In most cases, the symptoms of swelling, pain,  and perceived heaviness in the region of varicose veins or perivenous tissues  improve significantly after leech application. We must stress that, when  used to treat symptomatic varicosis, leech therapy should be administered  in combination with other effective treatment modalities, especially those  for relief of venous congestion. Important pillars of chronic venous insufficiency management include weight normalization for obese patients, physical therapy, and Kneipp's system of hydrotherapy. For optimal treatment  results, supportive measures (e.g., support or compression stockings and  medicinal wraps) should be continued and/or incorporated into combined  treatment strategies. In any case, the patient should always be advised that  leech therapy improves the symptoms but not the appearance of varicose  veins.

Spider-burst must be differentiated from symptomatic varicose veins.  Most patients seeking treatment for this mainly asymptomatic form of venous  dilatation are women expecting cosmetic improvement. Leech therapy can,  in fact, improve the cosmetic appearance of spider-burst veins, but there are  no reliable data for objective quantification of the treatment results. As with  CVI, it is important to inform patients with spider-burst veins that leeching  often does not change the appearance of their condition and that the leech  bites can even result in small scars or depigmentation.

In most cases, leech application has a significantly positive effect on the  course of superficial phlebitis. Patients often perceive a noticeable improvement of symptoms right after treatment. Due to the potent anti-inflamma-tory, blood-thinning, and lymph flow-accelerating effect of leech secretions,  the symptoms of swelling and pain rapidly subside, and the local letting of  blood has a decongesting effect in the affected region.

In acute phlebitis, our experience has shown that the application of a larger number of leeches in a single session achieves the best results. In chronic  venous disease, on the other hand, it is better to apply a smaller number of  leeches in a series of treatments.

Practical Procedure

Target sites for leech application must be identified while the patient is  standing to ensure that the blood vessels are in their maximum filling state.  Leeches should never be applied to a visible or palpable vein, but always  perivenously, that is, slightly proximal or lateral to the vein. Once the target  sites have been identified, the leeches can be applied while the patient is  lying down. As soon as the bleeding has stopped and dark crusts have formed,  cooling compresses should be applied to the leech bites. We have found curd  or lemon wraps to be effective for this purpose; these supportive measures  enhance the results of treatment and reduce and/or eliminate the itching  and swelling that often occur following treatment. The patient should l<eep  the leg elevated during the first two days after treatment. The leech therapist  should specifically advise the patient never to scratch on or around the leech  bites since this could cause inflammation and permanent depigmentation of  the bite marks.

The "dosage" guidelines provided below should be interpreted as reference values that must be adjusted to the individual needs of each patient.  Based on our experience in practice, we also recommend that leeching  should not be performed on patients with venous diseases on hot days unless absolutely necessary.

Acute Phlebitis, Acute Superficial Thrombosis

Six to ten closely spaced leeches are applied perivenously. Leeching should  be performed two to three times within a period of approximately one weel<  until the symptoms have subsided completely. Blood counts should be obtained before any repeat treatments are administered.

Postthrombotic Syndrome Secondary to Deep Leg Vein Thrombosis

Leeches can be applied to the affected region for superficial adjuvant therapy  (only after completion of pharmacological anticoagulant therapy! ). Repeat  treatments can be considered if the initial treatment resulted in good improvement of symptoms and prolonged therapeutic effects. To avoid problems with wound healing, leeches should never be applied directly to regions with marked signs of dermatitis or ulceration.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

The symptoms of CVI (e.g., feeling of heaviness, pain, swelling, and itching in  the legs) typically occur after orthostatic stress. The severity of symptoms,  not the cosmetic appearance, determines the need for treatment.

Four to six leeches are evenly distributed lateral to the affected veins.  The treatment should be repeated at four- to six-week intervals, i.e., after  the therapeutic effect subsides. In the case of severe varicosis in the thigh  and calf regions, it may be necessary to apply more leeches (10-12) around  the vein in order to cover the symptomatic region adequately. Blood counts  should be obtained prior to bilateral or repeat leech applications.

Special recommendations apply when treating venous ulcers in the calf  and forefoot region associated with severe CVI. We advise against applying  leeches directly to the ulcers, even though good results have reportedly been  achieved with this practice in isolated cases. Instead, we recommend that  a few leeches be applied to the healthy skin roughly 2-10 cm proximal and  lateral to the edges of the ulcer wounds.

Spider-Burst Veins

The number of leeches used depends on the extent of venous dilatation. As a  rule, no more than four to five leeches are required for a focal area of spider-burst veins. The leeches can be applied directly in and around the spider-burst  region.

P. Flecken, A. Michalsen