Acute normovolemic haemodilution (ANH) may cause an imbalance in cerebral oxygen metabolism because it decreases the arterial oxygen content. This study was designed to investigate the effect of ANH on cerebral oxygenation. By using cerebral oximetry, the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) was monitored during ANH in 26 patients without systemic illness (initial haematocrit = 42 +/- 1%). The rSO2 did not show a significant change until the Hct reached >30%. However, it decreased significantly thereafter to reach 88% of the baseline value when the ANH was completed with a Hct value of 24 +/- 1% (before ANH; 71 +/- 6% vs. after ANH; 62 +/- 4%, p < 0.01). In conclusion, an ANH can lead to a reduction in cerebral oxygenation when a patient's Hct goes below 30%.