Table 2 Values of parameters in the different groups of patients with liver disease and in controls

PHES

−0.2 ± 0.8^a

−0.4 ± 0.8

−6 ± 2

<0.001

<0.0001

p < 0.001

Nitrates + Nitrites (μM)

18 ± 3

24 ± 8

29 ± 8

ns

<0.0001

p < 0.05

p < 0.001

cGMP in Plasma (pmoles/ml)

4 ± 1

7 ± 3

10 ± 4

<0.05

<0.0001

p < 0.05

p < 0.001

Lymphocyte basal cGMP (pmol/mg prot)

0.169 ± 0.06

0.078 ± 0.06

0.047 ± 0.02

ns

<0.0001

p < 0.001

p < 0.01

SNAP-induced cGMP increase (fold)

11 ± 3

21 ± 9

22 ± 11

ns

0.0004

p < 0.01

p < 0.01

ANP (ng/ml)

0.014 ± 0.003

0.015 ± 0.002

0.015 ± 0.002

ns

ns

IL-6 (pg/ml)

1 ± 0.6

2.5 ± 1.5

4.7 ± 2.1

<0.001

<0.0001

p < 0.05

p < 0.001

IL-18 (pg/ml)

174 ± 80

281 ± 138

388 ± 138

<0.05

<0.0001

p < 0.05

p < 0.001

Creatinine (mg/dl)

0.74 ± 0.12

0.77 ± 0.19

0.86 ± 0.45

ns

ns

Total bilirubin (mg/dl)

0.61 ± 0.16

1.42 ± 0.94

1.05 ± 0.83

ns

0.005

p = 0.003

Albumin (g/dl)

4.49 ± 0.14

3.90 ± 0.56

3.70 ± 0.59

ns

<0.001

p = 0.001

p < 0.001

INR

1.06 ± 0.05

1.22 ± 0.36

1.18 ± 0.17

ns

0.08

Ammonia (μM)

72 ± 22

127 ± 40

131 ± 35

ns

<0.001

p < 0.001

p < 0.001