Table 2. The VEGF-sVEGFR levels in the three study groups.
| Parameter | Control (n=20) | VHD with SR (n=31) | P valuea | VHD with AF (n=49) | P valueb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEGF-A (pg/mL) | 88.90 (±45.48) | 149.37 (±99.95) | 0.37 | 188.81 (±185.34) | 0.02 |
| VEGF-C (pg/mL) | 1,040.20 (±308.61) | 956.56 (±510.92) | 0.40 | 1,051.91 (±543.35) | 0.93 |
| sVEGFR-1 (pg/mL) | 92.91 (±26.64) | 82.77 (±41.85) | 0.03 | 138.87 (±149.48) | 0.11 |
| sVEGFR-2 (pg/mL) | 6,239.05 (±1,030.40) | 5,351.81 (±1,150.83) | 0.00 | 4,627.65 (±1,076.69) | 0.00 |
The results are expressed as the means (±standard deviation). Two-sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney tests were used as appropriate for parametric and non-parametric continuous variables. Comparisons between groups were made using a one-way Analysis of Variance (one-way ANOVA). P valuea: atrial fibrillation vs. sinus rhythm; P valueb: atrial fibrillation vs. control. VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; sVEGFR, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; VHD, valvular heart disease; SR, sinus rhythm; AF, atrial fibrillation.