Leech Saliva Relieves Osteoarthritis Pain

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Knee Pain From Arthritis? Try Leeches

Leech Saliva Relieves Osteoarthritis Pain; Could Lead to New Drug

 

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

 

 

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Monday, November 03, 2003

WebMD Medical News

 

 

Nov. 3, 2003 -- A new study shows the ancient medical practice of

using leeches may provide a new arthritis pain reliever.

 

 

The study appears in the latest Annals of Internal Medicine.

 

 

In recent times, several anti-inflammatory and anticlotting

substances have been found in leech saliva, writes researcher

Andreas Michalsen, MD, with the University of Duisburg-Essen in

Essen, Germany.

 

 

A pilot study shows that a single treatment with three leeches to

the knee rapidly relieved osteoarthritis pain. In fact, topical

creams containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) also

work to relieve arthritis pain, he says.

 

 

In this study, Michalsen and colleagues worked with 51 patients with

knee osteoarthritis. Each was given a single treatment of four to

six leeches applied to the knee -- or a 28-day topical cream

containing the nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac.

Researchers monitored each patient's pain, function, and stiffness.

 

 

They found that, at day seven, arthritis pain was reduced

considerably after leech therapy -- more so than with the topical

cream. The leech therapy group also had better function and relief

from stiffness.

 

 

After day seven, the improvements continued in the leech therapy

group, until the study's end at day 28 --and although there was less

improvement as time went on, patients who had received the leech

therapy still reported better symptoms relief scores, writes

Michalsen.

 

 

The research could lead to a new topical pain reliever -- minus the

leeches, says Marc C. Hochberg, MD, MPH, with the University of

Maryland School of Medicine. His commentary also appears in Annals

of Medicine.

 

 

This discovery could ease not only patients' arthritis pain, but

also help people with other causes of pain, he writes.

[Guest guest]

Knee Pain From Arthritis? Try Leeches

Leech Saliva Relieves Osteoarthritis Pain; Could Lead to New Drug

 

>>>There are now several studies on this

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