KITLG and heart failure: SCF plays a role in vascular repair and lower circulating levels of SCF have been demonstrated to associate with an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular mortality30 and incident coronary events.31 Low SCF has also been associated with more severe carotid disease, less fibrous atherosclerotic plaques, and increased incidence of heart failure.31 In line with this, we observed lowered SCF levels in LAA and cardioembolic stroke, but not in SAO, cryptogenic stroke, or CeAD.