The gas composition, acid-alkaline state of arterial and venous blood and oxygen-transport function in carotid ischemic stroke was studied in 97 patients admitted to a hospital in the first 24h after stroke. Measurements were made at admission and after 5-7 days and 21-23 days. The relative hyperoxia, which reached maximal values to the first day, was found in patients in the acute stage of ischemic stroke. The increase in partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and relative acidosis seen to 5-7 days represent the compensatory reaction and lead to the increase in affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen thus improving the tissue oxygenation. We found the inverse correlations between the parameters of oxygen delivery (OD) and oxygen consumption (OC) in the first day and the severity of neurological deficit assessed with the NIHSS in the 21-23 days (r= -0,42; p<0,01 and r= -0,55; p<0,01 for OD and OC, respectively), i.e., the decrease in oxygen delivery and consumption corresponded to the greater severity of the stroke course.