Serum samples taken at the time of delivery have shown significantly increased sFlt-1 and decreased VEGF and PLGF concentrations in PE, compared to normotensive controls.50In vitro studies showed that serum from PE inhibited tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines compared to that from controls, and administration of adenovirus expressing sFlt-1 to pregnant rats caused hypertension, albuminuria and glomerular endotheliosis, similar to that observed in PE.50 This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and hypertensive disorder.