Table 3.
Changes in clinical assessments and vascular responses (in perfusion units) to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in responders and non-responders, and the subsequent time course of decay in acetylcholine response to 50% of the peak value at baseline and following 6 months of treatment. Values are means ± SE
| Non responder | Responder | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 6 months | Baseline | 6 months | |
| Clinical parameters | ||||
| MMSE | 23.4 ± 1.0 | 23.0 ± 0.9 | 24.4 ± 0.6 | 25.9 ± 0.6 |
| NOSGER IADL/SB | 39.0 ± 2.2 | 35.9 ± 2.6* | 36.8 ± 2.4 | 38.8 ± 2.2 |
| NOSGER Total | 121.8 ± 4.8 | 116.2 ± 4.7 | 116.5 ± 5.5 | 120.7 ± 4.7 |
| DSST | 16.6 ± 3.7 | 14.5 ± 3.8* | 22.3 ± 2.5 | 25.1 ± 1.8 |
| Vascular responses | ||||
| Basal perfusion (PU) | 49 ± 12 | 51 ± 13 | 41 ± 10 | 43 ± 11 |
| Peak acetylcholine response (PU) | 345 ± 77 | 361 ± 49 | 326 ± 43 | 409 ± 43** |
| Peak sodium nitroprusside response (PU) | 288 ± 68 | 296 ± 45 | 265 ± 36 | 366 ± 50*** |
| Acetylcholine 50% decay (secs) | 400 ± 60 | 321 ± 32 | 230 ± 38¥ | 332 ± 42* |
* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.005, comparing values at baseline versus 6 months within the two groups
¥ P < 0.05 comparing baseline acetylcholine 50% decay between non-responders and responders