Fig. 1

Effect of ascorbate administration on (a) systolic blood pressure and (b) mean arterial pressure in patients with severe sepsis. Patients were administered placebo (circle, 5 % dextrose and water, n = 6) or ascorbate (inverted triangle, 200 mg/kg/24 h, n = 7). The ascorbate dosage was divided into four equal doses and administered over 30 min every 6 h for 96 h in 50 ml of 5 % dextrose and water [12]. Systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were measured at the bedside using an arterial line (radial artery)