Results of the MMPs and TIMPs serum levels.

<p>Only MMP-9 serum level was significantly higher in patients with new-EE compared to controls and patients with no new-EE. Medians and interquartile ranges are shown.</p

Baseline Characteristics of The Patient Population.

<p>Baseline Characteristics of The Patient Population.</p

Gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 (92 kDa) evaluated by in-gel zymography.

<p><b>A</b>: Gelatinolytic activity is greater in New-EE patients. <b>B</b>: Densitometric analysis of the values of gelatinase activity expressed as arbitrary units (AR). Results are given as means ±SEM. *p<0.0001 <i>vs.</i> Controls; †p = 0.05 versus No new-EE patients.</p

Predictors of New-EE by Multivariable Analysis.

<p>OR = odds ratio; SD = standard deviation; CI = confidence interval.</p

Flow chart showing enrollment of study patients.

<p>Flow chart showing enrollment of study patients.</p

Receiver Operating Characteristic curves analysis using vegetation length and MMP-9 serum level as predictors of new-EE.

<p>The area under de curves are given with their 95% confidence interval.</p