CXCL12 and atrial fibrillation: In the multiple linear regression model, adjusted for those significant variables associated to lesion volume in the univariate analysis (history of arterial hypertension, alcohol consumption, history of atrial fibrillation, fibrinolytic treatment, and NIHSS at admission), serum levels of VEGF (B, − 21.4), G-CSF (B, − 14.0), Ang-1 (B, − 13.3), and SDF-1α (B, − 44.6) measured at day 7 were independently associated with lesion volume at 6 months (all p < 0.01).