Table 2.
Results of laser Doppler flowmetry and iontophoresis
| Before treatment (N = 15) | Week 8 (N = 14) | Week 16 (N = 12) | Week 20 (N = 9) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACh-mediated vasodilation | ||||
| Baseline flux (PU) | 32.1 ± 30.5 | 47.0 ± 37.4 | 56.4 ± 45.4* | 33.3 ± 38.3 |
| Change from pretreatment values | 16.9 ± 42.5 | 24.7 ± 32.5 | −2.42 ± 51.7 | |
| Plateau flux (PU) | 71.0 ± 46.2 | 96.8 ± 61.8 | 123.2 ± 93.8* | 69.2 ± 60.5 |
| Change from pretreatment values | 31.9 ± 76.4 | 55.8 ± 88.1 | 7.3 ± 67.7 | |
| Absolute increase (PU) | 39.0 ± 35.1 | 49.2 ± 38.8 | 66.8 ± 65.3 | 35.9 ± 33.3 |
| Change from pretreatment values | 15.0 ± 52.2 | 31.1 ± 60.3 | 9.8 ± 44.8 | |
| ACh-mediated vasodilation (%) | 187.3 ± 154.4 | 142.2 ± 202.6 | 116.2 ± 84.2 | 142.8 ± 124.7 |
| Change from pretreatment values | −47.0 ± 264.3 | −81.0 ± 127.2 | −31.3 ± 189.9 | |
| SNP-mediated vasodilation | ||||
| Baseline flux (PU) | 23.8 ± 15.8 | 21.1 ± 14.1 | 36.8 ± 25.9 | 51.6 ± 22.9** |
| Change from pretreatment values | −3.3 ± 22.1 | 12.1 ± 28.7 | 22.8 ± 30.6 | |
| Plateau flux (PU) | 85.2 ± 60.7 | 56.4 ± 70.0 | 106.3 ± 102.5 | 112.1 ± 48.2 |
| Change from pretreatment values | −29.9 ± 84.1 | 13.4 ± 107.3 | 29.1 ± 74.4 | |
| Absolute increase (PU) | 61.4 ± 52.9 | 35.3 ± 61.7 | 69.5 ± 86.2 | 57.5 ± 64.4 |
| Change from pretreatment values | −25.7 ± 69.2 | 1.3 ± 94.2 | −2.6 ± 84.7 | |
| SNP-mediated vasodilation (%) | 402.0 ± 413.0 | 155.0 ± 155.4** | 197.8 ± 171.5 | 145.7 ± 130.0 |
| Change from pretreatment values | −244.2 ± 426.4 | −235.3 ± 436.7 | −151.3 ± 321.2 | |
Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation
ACh acetylcholine, PU arbitrary units of flux, SNP sodium nitroprusside
*p = 0.05 compared to before treatment; **p < 0.05 compared to before treatment