Aim To explore the relationship between the expression of serum aquaporin 1 (AQP1), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the severity of cerebral edema in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods 78 patients with acute cerebral infarction were selected as the observation group and 80 healthy people were selected as the control group, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of serum AQP1, AQP4 and VEGF, the severity of brain edema was judged by measuring the electrical impedance disturbance coefficient with non-invasive dynamic monitor. According to the electrical impedance disturbance coefficient, the observation group was divided into severe group (>9.5) and mild group (7.5