Background: Myocardial viability may influence the diastolic function of left ventricle(LV) reflecting chamber remodeling in the early phase after acute myocardial infarction(AMI). So we aimed to evaluate whether myocardial viability assessed by novel strain rate imaging has an influence on LV diastolic function in the early phase after AMI. Methods: 134 consecutive patients with AMI and akinetic wall motion in at least two segments were enrolled and underwent low-dose dobutamine echocardiography(LD-DSE) on 5~9 days after the event. Myocardial viability was quantitatively evaluated by global peak systolic strain rate(psSR) and global time to peak of psSR. Within 6 hours after LD-DSE, left and right heart catheterization with the recording of LVEDP and PCWP was performed. And 6 months later, Thallium scan and echocardiography were performed. Global strain rate parameters were assessed on 12 segments of LV except apex. Results: Patients(67.9% men, mean age 60.1짹1.1years, 54.5% anterior wall, 53.7% ST-segment elevation) were tolerated LD-DSE without significant complications. 71.6% of patients underwent revascularization therapy. After 6 months later, all-cause mortality was 7.6% and LV ejection fraction was significantly increased from 48.7짹1.1% to 52.0짹1.1%(p=0.00). And also LV end diastolic volume was significantly decreased from 94.6짹4.0cc to 89.1짹3.8cc(p=0.00). Global psSR at baseline of LD-DSE showed significant linear correlations with LV end diastolic pressure, transmitral E/E��� ratio and left atrial volume index(r=-0.43 and p=0.01, r=0.52 and p=0.00 and r=0.52 and p=0.00, respectively). And also global psSR at 10mcg of LD-DSE showed significant linear correlations with transmitral E/E��� ratio and left atrial volume index(r=0.52 and p=0.00 and r=0.36 and p=0.02, respectively). As we expected, global psSR at 10mcg of LD-DSE correlates significantly with the change of LV end diastolic volume (r=-0.42 and p=0.04). Conclusions: Novel strain rate parameters of LD-DSE correlates with LV diastolic functional parameters and chamber remodeling after AMI. So, these parameters may provide a useful prognostic information for LV remodeling in the patient with the early phase of AMI.