Promoter variant of angiopoietin-2 and plasma angiopoietin-2 are associated with risk of stroke recurrence in lacunar infarct patients

► The association between angiopoietin-2 and stroke recurrence remains unclear. ► The association of plasma angiopoietin-2 with stroke recurrence was tested. ► The association of the angiopoietin-2 variants with stroke recurrence was tested. ► Plasma angiopoietin-2 and allele T of rs3739391 were associated with lacunar stroke recurrence. ► Angiopoietin-2 and its variant might be the risk marker for lacunar stroke recurrence.