Neutralization of a snake venom hemorrhagic metalloproteinase prevents coagulopathy after subcutaneous injection of Bothrops jararaca venom in rats

Coagulopathy is one of the major complications following envenomations by c rotalid and viperid snakes. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of a hemorrhagic metalloproteinase in Borhrops jararaca venom, jara rafibrase I (JF I), on the development of coagulopathy using rat snakebite model. Coagulation parameters were monitored after subcutaneous injection o f B. jararaca crude venom, JF I-neutralizcd venom and purified JF I in rats . Crude venom induced unclottable blood and fibrinogen consumption, while J F I-neutralized venom and purified JF I did not induce coagulopathy. Plasma venom antigen level of rats given JF I-neutralized venom was lower than th at of rats given crude venom. We conclude that venom hemorrhagic metallopro teinases play an important role in the development of coagulopathy through rapid spreading of venom coagulation components from the injected area into systemic circulation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.