Coagulant component in Cerastes cerastes (Egyptian sand viper) venom.

A coagulant component has been purified from Cerastes cerastes venom, using gel filtration on a Sephadex G 100 (fine) column followed by chromatography on a Bio-Rex 70 column. This compound had a proteolytic effect and could coagulate human plasma deficient in factor VIII or (VIII + IX) with the formation of a firm clot. It could also clot plasma deficient in factor X, but the clot formed was soft and not complete. The compound had no effect on platelet aggregation and was nontoxic. This compound is believed to be primarily a factor X activator, as it could replace factor VIII in hemophilic plasmas.