One hypothesis offered to explain the pathophysiology of CAD and PAD is that anti‐angiogenic factors (eg TSP‐1) may be highly up‐regulated in the ischaemic tissue, in addition to the insufficient induction of pro‐angiogenic factors (eg VEGF, NO).39, 90 To date, only a few studies have explored this hypothesis and confirmed the increase in plasma and skeletal muscle TSP‐1 in PAD91, 92, 93 and CAD94 patients. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and peripheral arterial disease.