The goal of the study was the choice of hemodynamic parameters most useful in prognosing the survival of the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The investigated group comprised 40 patients, who underwent left and right cardiac catheterization with left ventricular (LV) quantitative angiography. The day of catheterization was the starting point of the observation, which was performed by means of follow-up regular examinations and information from questionnaires sent to and returned by the patients or their families. The follow-up spanned from 1 to 120 months (means = 43). The hemodynamic parameters of LV systole, ejection, isovolumic relaxation and filling were assessed. The patients were divided into two subgroups featuring survival of less and more than 3 years, respectively. In these two subgroups the following parameters were compared: LVEADP, T constant of relaxation, LVEDP, LVEDVI,+dp/dt max, EF, LV mass/volume ratio, MCSD (midwall circumferential LV stress in early diastole), -dp/dt min. They were also correlated with survival and analyzed in Cutler-Ederer survival tables. CONCLUSIONS 1. 32% of patients survived more than 5 years. 2. The prognostically most valuable parameters seem to be: -dp/dt min, LVEADP, LVEDVI, EF, LVEDP, MCSD, +dp/dt max. 3. The prognosing of survival in patients with DCM should be based on a multifactorial analysis because of lack of domination of any single factor.