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.