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November 5, 2003
Leech Away Osteoarthritis
Leeches have been used medicinally since ancient times, perhaps most famously as a technique for drawing out poison from an afflicted person.
Now, a paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports a more modern application - as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis (arthritis) of the knee is a painful and potentially debilitating condition. Treatments include topical medicines and steroid injections to address inflammation and pain, but provide little relief. In some cases, surgical replacement of the knee becomes necessary.
Researchers undertook to find if leech saliva - containing a substance known to decrease inflammation - might help patients. In the study, 51 patients were assigned either leech therapy or treatment with diclofenac gel. Leech therapy consisted of applying 4 to 6 leeches to the affected knee for just over an hour (until the leeches detached themselves).
Researchers fround that patients receiving leech therapy reported less stiffness, better function, and fewer total arthritis symptoms through the full three months of the study. The results are encouraging, and studies are ongoing to compare leech therapy with other arthritis treatments, and over longer periods of time.
Posted by Sam in Health & Medicine