Non invasive blood flow measurement in cerebellum detects minimal hepatic encephalopathy earlier than psychometric tests

Table 2 Biochemical parameters in blood (mean ± SE)

Parameter	Controls(n = 14)	Patients without MHE(n = 24) P vs control	Patients with mHE(n = 16) P vs control	Patients with MHEPvs without MHE	P values
cGMP in plasma (pmol/mL)	0.64 ± 0.1	6.1 ± 0.6	8.7 ± 1.1
		P < 0.0001	P < 0.0001	< 0.05	< 0.0001
Nitrates + Nitrites (μmol/L)	18 ± 1	38 ± 4	44 ± 9
		P = 0.004	P = 0.004	NS	0.001
3-Nitro-tyrosine (nmol/L)	3.5 ± 1.2	10 ± 1	43 ± 6	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
			P < 0.0001
IL-6 (pg/mL)	0.7 ± 0.2	2.3 ± 0.3	4.4 ± 0.5	0.001	< 0.0001
		P < 0.05	P < 0.0001
IL-18 (pg/mL)	103 ± 13			< 0.05	< 0.0001
		268 ± 39	404 ± 44
		P = 0.02	P < 0.0001
Ammonia (μmol/L)	39 ± 4	84 ± 14	103 ± 33	NS	0.005
		P = 0.04	P = 0.006

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-hoc Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test were performed. Adjusted P values are shown. NS: Not significant.