IGFBP2 and atherosclerosis: IGFBP-2 has been proposed as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease severity and mortality in patients with pulmonary hypertension and heart failure [14,15], while NECTIN-2 and PECAM-1 have been associated with leukocyte endothelial transmigration and atherosclerosis [16,17], and the latter also with IS severity [17].