Kovacevic KD, Mayer FJ, Jilma B, et al. - Among prospectively registered patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease, researchers investigated Von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen (VWF:Ag) levels as a predictor of future major adverse cardiovascular events. Using enzyme immunoassay, they measured VWF concentrations. They found that future cardiovascular events were predicted by VWF:Ag levels in 811 participants independent of recognized cardiovascular risk factors. Following an average 3-year follow up, a 44% event rate was observed in patients with VWF:Ag levels in the 4th quartile, with a hazard ratio of 2.15. In patients with carotid stenosis, major cardiovascular events were predicted by high levels of VWF:Ag, which may be beneficial for the risk stratification of such patients given their high event rate.