Demographics of the Study Population.

All variables displayed as mean ± SEM (n = 40 in each group);RVD = rheumatic valvular disease;DVD = degenerative valvular disease; M = male; F = female; GLU = glucose; TBIL = total bilirubin;GPT = glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; TCHOL = total cholesterol; TG = triglyceride; HDL-C = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C = low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; UA = uric acid; CREA = creatinine.P>0.05 in all comparisons between any two of these groups (unpaired t-test for all continuous numbers).