To further elucidate the role of FABP4 in atherogenesis in humans, we examined the regulation of FABP4 in atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke in three different ways: (i) In a cross-sectional study of patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid plaques we analyzed FABP4 levels in plasma and plaque samples. This evidence concerns the gene FABP4 and ischemic stroke.