However, neither IL-6 nor N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide showed sufficient predictive power to be of clinical value.   15  In a 4-year prospective cohort study of inflammatory markers, higher levels of IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen were shown to be associated with an increased risk of recurrent vascular events, vascular death after stroke, and nonvascular causes of death. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is stroke disorder.