Recently, however, a prospective study found that patients with the lowest ADAMTS13 activity had the highest risk for ischemic stroke, independent of other known demographic and cardiovascular risk factors.[16] Likewise, a link was recently identified between the genetic architecture of ADAMTS13, ADAMTS13 levels and stroke susceptibility.[17] These results all point towards a possible causative role for ADAMTS13 in the development of acute ischemic stroke in patients. This evidence concerns the gene ADAMTS13 and ischemic stroke.