Association of NIHSS, mRS and BI scores at D90 to the numbers of circulating EPC subtypes pinpointed substantial correlations between decreased BL numbers of CD34 + KDR + and stroke severity on D90 (NIHSS: r: − 0.281; p: 0.043; mRS: − 0.343; p: 0.01) (Fig. 1). Here, KDR is linked to stroke disorder.