In other words, the limitations of our study could also be regarded as its strengths, if it is acknowledged that it was designed to answer a "phase 2 question" in the hierarchy of diagnostic research, setting the stage for a future and planned validating study [31], as well as to gain insights about the time-course of sFlt-1 and VEGF-A release during the very initial phase of sepsis. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is Sepsis.