Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor (sFlt-1) in essential hypertension

In this study of 27 untreated patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension, we report on elevated plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor FIt-1 compared with healthy controls; these increased levels are reduced by the treatment of hypertension. This raises the possibility that abnormal angiogenesis may contribute to the pathogenesis of complications related to hypertension and merits exploration in larger studies.