ISCHEMIA-induced pathologic processes are responsible for the single greatest cause of death in this country — heart disease; cerebral ischemia also makes a major contribution to our nation's morbidity and mortality. A relatively subtle indicator of ischemic injury to a tissue is enhanced capillary permeability, which results in edema formation. More pronounced damage may be manifested as leakage of cytosolic enzymes into the circulation or as microscopic or gross morphologic changes and tissue destruction. Recent evidence suggests that oxygen-derived free radicals may be abundantly produced in ischemic tissues, accounting for at least part of the damage that results.

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