Moreover, batimastat exerted a significant
inhibition of in vitro coagulant and in vivo defibrinogenating effects of venom, evidencing that metalloproteinases play a key role in the coagulopathy characteristic of B.asper envenomation. The remaining uninhibited coagulant effect is due to serine proteinases, i.e. thrombin-like enzymes, since this effect was completely abrogated by the combination of batimastat and PMSF.
Our results stress the view that metalloproteinases play a relevant role in the systemic pathophysiology of B. asper envenomation and that metalloproteinase inhibitors may become a therapeutic alternative in this pathology.q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.