Table 1 Main characteristics of subjects enrolled in the study

n

16

16

16

Sex (male/female)

7/9

7/9

9/7

0.716

Age (years)

61 ± 11

62 ± 16

66 ± 17

0.306

Diabetes

1

2

6

0.110

Obesity

1

4

5

0.248

Smoking history

3

3

3

1.000

SAPS II

–

42 ± 12

75 ± 17

<0.001

SOFA score

–

9 (6 to 11)

12 (11 to 14)

<0.001

 Respiration

–

3 (2 to 4)

3 (2 to 4)

0.984

 Coagulation

–

1 (0 to 2)

0 (0 to 0)

0.007

 Liver

–

0 (0 to 1)

0 (0 to 1)

0.748

 Cardiovascular

–

4 (3 to 4)

4 (3 to 4)

0.746

 Central nervous system

–

0 (0 to 0)

4 (3 to 4)

<0.001

 Renal

–

0 (0 to 1)

1 (1 to 2)

0.022

Platelet count (× 10³/mm³)

229 (191 to 268)

140* (93 to 183)

180 (153 to 221)

<0.001

Central (or mixed) venous oxygen saturation (%)

–

74 ± 9

62 ± 14

0.015

Blood lactate (mmol/l)

–

2 ± 2

10 ± 5

<0.001

Antibiotic(s)

–

16

6

<0.001

Sedative(s) intravenously

–

13

12

1.000

Catecholamine(s)

–

13

16

0.226

Mechanical ventilation

–

15

15

1.000

Renal replacement therapy

–

0

1

1.000

Intra-aortic balloon pump

–

0

2

0.484

Days from hospital to ICU admission

–

0 (0 to 1)

1 (0 to 8)

0.074

Hours from ICU admission to study enrolment

–

22 ± 13

9 ± 6

<0.001

Length of stay in ICU (days)

–

16 (6 to 24)

1 (1 to 2)

<0.001

Deaths in ICU

–

5

10

0.156