Effects of Russell's viper venom on blood coagulation, platelets and the fibrinolytic enzyme system.

The effects of Russell's viper venom (RVV) on blood coagulation, platelts and fibrinolysis were studied in vivo and in vitro in rabbits and dogs as experimental subjects. RVV was shown to be a strong coagulant, and at the time of manifestation of bleeding due to consumption coagulopathy, the most striking hemostatic abnormalities were fall of fibrinogen level, reduction in platelet count, delayed ADP aggregation of platelets, increased fibrinolytic activity and presence of fibrin degradation products. These findings showed that RVV interfered with blood coagulation, caused abnormalities of platelet function and also activated the fibrinolytic enzyme system.