Ecarin

Ecarin is a 55’000 to 60’000 Da metalloprotease isolated from the venom of the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) that activates prothrombin. Ecarin does not affect other clotting factors. The action of ecarin on prothrombin is independent of calcium, phospholipids and factor V. Moreover, Ecarin, in contrast to factor Xa, activates the acarboxy form of prothrombin present in plasma of patients undergoing oral anticoagulant therapy with vitamin K antagonists.