The main findings are illustrated in Fig. 3, and they are as follows: (1) several pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and metalloproteases were significantly elevated in plasma of the stroke patients compared to the healthy controls; (2) FKN, sVCAM-1, and sICAM-1 concentrations were independently associated with the degree of plaque inflammation; and (3) the plasma levels of sICAM-1 predicted with high sensitivity the risk of finding highly inflamed carotid plaques and the recurrence of stroke within 1 year. Here, CX3CL1 is linked to stroke disorder.