[A novel high quality specific antithrombotic drug--hirudin].

Hirudin is the most potent specific inhibitor of thrombin, which is currently undergoing clinical trials as a novel antithrombotic drug. In this paper, the composition and structure, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic characteristics, the anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity and function, the methods of isolation, recombination and syntheses were reviewed.