Zhang C, Qian S, Zhang R, et al. – In a cohort of 3,463 participants from the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, researchers determined the link between endostatin and mortality and disability following ischemic stroke. Participants were patients with acute ischemic stroke who had their plasma endostatin measured. Death or severe disability (modified Rankin scale score of 4–6) was assessed as the primary outcome, and death and vascular events were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Findings revealed an increased risk of mortality and severe disability at 3 months in relation to increased baseline plasma endostatin levels in acute ischemic stroke. Investigators noted that risk stratification of primary outcome improved significantly after combining plasma endostatin to the basic model created with conventional factors. They concluded that plasma endostatin may be used as a crucial prognostic marker for risk stratification in patients suffering from ischemic stroke.