The aim of the present study was to determine whether patients with previous cerebrovascular disease have abnormalities in hemostatic functions stimulated by a 5-min venous-occlusion-test. Twenty-two patients with brain ischaemia 3–6 months previously were compared to a control group of twenty patients with non-vascular neurological diseases. Cases showed less increase in tissue plasminogen activator and fibrin degradation products than controls. There were no differences in baseline and stimulated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor, fibrinogen degradation products, thrombin-antithrombin complex or global lysis assay (Fibriscreen). Since patients with acute cerebrovascular disease were not included, the present findings may represent either preexisting or longterm reactive fibrinolytic deficiencies, possibly predisposing to further thrombotic disease.