Abstract
Summary. The effect of the coagulant fraction from Agkistrodon rhodostoma venom (Arvin = ancrod) on the generation of microthrombi was studied in rabbits. Ancrod infusion caused hypofibrinogenaemia and induced the formation of circulating fibrin monomer complexes, but microthrombi were not detected in the glomerular capillaries. If, however, endotoxin was injected into ancrod‐infused rabbits, 73% of the animals showed microclots in the glomerular capillaries typical of the generalized Shwartzman reaction. These microclots exhibited antigenic characteristics of fibrinogen derivatives. Injection of endotoxin only did not produce glomerular capillary thrombosis and the mean fibrinogen levels did not decrease significantly, although fibrin monomer complexes could be detected in all the rabbits. Generation of microthrombosis by ancrod infusion and endotoxin injection could not be prevented by treating the animals with heparin. Thus endotoxin mediated the generation of microclots in ancrod‐infused rabbits by a mechanism different from its procoagulant activity. Heparin treatment interfered neither with the decrease in fibrinogen levels caused by ancrod infusion nor with the fall in the platelet counts caused by endotoxin injection.
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