Numerous case–control studies that determined vWF levels at the time of ischaemic stroke showed a significant increase in vWF as compared with controls.33, 37, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52However, due to the nature of their study design, no assumptions on the cause–effect relationship can be made, i.e., whether elevated vWF levels reflect a risk of developing first-ever stroke or simply mirror inflammation and an activation of the haemostatic system and are therefore a consequence of acute ischaemia. The gene discussed is VWF; the disease is stroke disorder.