It is postulated that the ischemic placenta contributes to endothelial cell dysfunction in the maternal vasculature by inducing an alteration in the balance of circulating levels of angiogenic/antiangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and sFlt-1 (11,12), though sFlt-1 levels play a key role in initiating the symptoms of preeclampsia (11,13). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is preeclampsia.