Table 1 Microcirculatory parameters in the 3 groups

PVD (vessels/mm)

SHAM

2.6 (2.5-2.7)

2.7 (2.3-2.9)

2.4 (2.2-2.7)

2.3 (2.3-2.5) c

P<0.05

I-R

3.2 (2.9-3.7)

2.0 (1.5-2.8) c

2.1 (1.7-2.7) c

1.6 (1.3-2.3) a, c

I-R+BH4

3.2 (2.7-3.4)

3.0 (2.6-3.3) b

2.5 (2.0-3.1) b, c

3.1 (2.4-3.8) b

PPV (%)

SHAM

93.7 (93.3-94.7)

87.6 (84.2-90.6) c

83.0 (80.3-90.2) c

85.5 (82.0-90.4) c

P=0.269

I-R

97.3 (96.0-97.9)

80.1 (73.5-90.2) c

82.7 (68.5-88.7) c

79.8 (74.9-84.6) c

I-R+BH4

97.8 (96.8-98.3)

92.3 (89.8-93.8) b, c

85.9 (80.9-91.5) c

89.3 (86.0-99.4) c

PPV-HI (%)

SHAM

11.9 (8.9-13.2)

18.4 (16.5-22.8) c

14.2 (11.0-15.1)

14.4 (11.3-39.0)

P<0.05

I-R

9.6 (5.5-11.0)

43.0 (22.2-84.0) a, c

41.8 (28.2-97.7) a, c

47.3 (11.1-76.3) c

I-R+BH4

9.3 (7.3-12.5)

24.7 (17.1-32.8) c

42.8 (29.1-56.2) c

25.4 (2.9-40.5) c