Results of exercise echocardiography (treadmill) and of coronary angiography were compared in 119 subjects (mean age 54.9-/+7.9 years) with normal left ventricular contractility at rest. Forty two patients had no pronounced lesions in coronary arteries, while 77 had >50% stenoses in main coronary arteries. Sensitivity and specificity of stress echocardiography were similar in patients with (n=48) and without (n=71) left ventricular hypertrophy (76 and 78%, 75 and 74%, respectively). Specificity and diagnostic accuracy of stress echocardiography were substantially higher than those of ECG during treadmill test especially in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.