VEGFA and COVID-19: COVID-19 patients exhibit a significant increase in plasma cytokine levels, including interleukins (IL1B, IL1RA, IL7, IL8, IL9, IL10), fibroblast growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IFNG, IP10, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP1A and MIP1B), platelet-derived growth factor, TNF, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), compared to a healthy control group [21].