Autopsy studies have shown that cardiomyopathy of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by fibrosis of the posterobasal and contiguous lateral wall of the left ventricle. This study was designed to determine whether stress testing would improve the sensitivity of echocardiography to detect secondary impairment of regional myocardial function. 12 patients aged 5 to 23 years with DMD were investigated. TM- and 2D-echocardiograms were performed before and during graded infusion of angiotensin (A) (0.5 to 5.0 mcg/min), and parameters of cardiac function analyzed. Satisfactory echocardiograms were obtained in all patients. Stress testing with A proved feasible in DMD and did not interfere with echocardiography. Before A all patients were in regular sinus rhythm and free of cardiac symptoms. Left ventricular function was normal in 9 patients and considered abnormal in 3 patients with hypokinesis and increased echo intensity of the posterobasal and lateral wall (2D short axis view) and/or a posterior wall to septal amplitude ratio of less than or equal to 1.1 (TM-echocardiogram). During A mean blood pressure rose and heart rate dropped significantly. 9 patients had marked supraventricular arrhythmias, 8 complained of dyspnea, cough or chest pain. Hypo- or akinesis of the posterobasal and sometimes the lateral wall was seen in 8, and a posterior wall to septal amplitude ratio of less than or equal to 1.1 in 9 patients. 3 patients, all with a muscle score of 60% or higher, remained free of symptoms and had no regional contraction abnormalities. Thus, clinical symptoms during A suggested latent congestive heart failure in many of the patients, and echocardiography identified provokable contraction abnormalities of such segments of the ventricular wall known to be most frequently involved in the dystrophic process in DMD. Stress testing revealed a correlation between clinical symptoms, abnormal echocardiographic findings and extent of the skeletal muscle disease in our study group. Physical limitation seems to protect the heart against demands that would otherwise cause earlier clinical manifestation of the cardiomyopathy in DMD.