VWF and Stroke: The rationale for vWF as a potential target in stroke comes from four bodies of evidence: animal models, that help us to understand the pathogenesis of stroke and give rise to the concept of vWF-targeting strategies; epidemiologic data demonstrating that plasma levels of vWF predict the occurrence and recurrence of stroke; genetic studies that establish an association between vWF levels and stroke risk on genomic levels; and lessons learned from patients with vWF disorders that showed the crucial role of vWF in atherothrombosis and stroke.