The fibrinolytic activity status of the patients with cerebral infarction can affect their clinical prognosis. In this case-controlled study, the plasma fibrinolytic system activities in 30 cases of cortical artery territory cerebral infarction (CACI) and 32 cases of perforating artery territory cerebral infarction (PACI) with a disease duration less than 3 days were assayed with a comprehensive panel including the plasma tPA activity, PAI activity, tPA releasing capacity from vascular endothelium and PAI/tPA ratio values. 30 subjects without cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders were served as control. The results showed that the plasma fibrinolytic system activities of the patients with aforementioned two subtypes of cerebral infarction were significantly lower than those of the controls, the results provide a theoretical basis for carrying out thrombolytic therapy in patients with ischemic stroke and suggest that recurrent cerebral infarction might be related to the high activity of plasma PAI.