A survey on literature reports and our own experimental studies on the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying ischaemic brain oedema is given and a new concept proposed. In regional incomplete ischaemia the lipoxygenase activity is enhanced, presumably caused by an increase of free radicals and hydroperoxides, leading to an enhancement of endothelial Na+, K+-AtPase and increased sodium and water transport from blood to brain. The aggravation of brain oedema and post-ischaemic hypoperfusion following recirculation appears to be mainly due to an activation of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway with release of oxidants from PGG2, which causes non-specific but detrimental damage to the endothelial and parenchymal cells. This new concept may open future perspectives in treatment which are briefly discussed.