VEGFD and hematocrit: Out of 9 proteins included initially, in advanced HF, elevated plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) decreased most markedly at 4 weeks (p < 0.0001), and decreased further at 6 months (p < 0.05) and at the 1 year follow-ups after-HT (p < 0.05).