Changes of monoamines, monoamine metabolites, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in cerebrospinal fluid were measured in 8 patients for up to 7 days after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The outcomes were assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. One showed good recovery 3 developed a persistent vegetate state (PVS) and 4 became brain dead (BD). The concentration of NSE increased to a peak about 3 days after resuscitation, then gradually decreased. MBP also showed an increase with time up to 7 days. The time course suggests that neuronal and/or axonal damage progresses for several days after hypoxic or anoxic brain insult. NSE and MBP in the BD group were higher than those in the PVS group, thus CSF levels may be prognostic with regard to hypoxic brain injury. Tyrosine, dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), 3-dihydroxy-4-phenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), vanillylmanderic acid (VMA), normetanephrine (NMN), metanephrine (MN), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), vanillic acid (VA), tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations were analyzed by HPLC with an electrochemical detector. Concentrations changed within 2 or 3 days after resuscitation, so concentrations at that period may indicate neuronal damage. However, there are some cases with abnormal NSE and MBP levels without abnormal monoamine levels, suggesting that differences in concentrations are not the consequence of the amount of affected neurons, but of the sites of regions.