Background; We evaluated if the echocardiographic parameters may be related to the serum markers of myocardial fibrosis. Methods: In 55 patients with untreated hypertension (mean BP 155/93 mmHg, 48 짹 11 yrs, EF>55%) and 20 age-matched normotensive control subjects, the serum levels of aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen I/III (PINP/PIIINP, marker of collagen synthesis) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP, marker of inhibition of collagen degradation) were measured by ELISA & RIA. To assess the myocardial contractile function, the average of negative longitudinal strain of 6 segments on apical 4 chamber view (SL), the average of radial and circumferential strain of 6 segments on mid-short axis view (SR, SC) and basal to apical torsion (degrees) were obtained using 2D-speckle tracking. Tei index was calculated as [ICT+IRT] / ET. Results: TIMP was higher in patients compared with control group (3.6 짹 0.6 vs 3.0 짹 0.5 關g/L, p<0.001), while PINP and PIIINP levels were not. TIMP was related to LV mass (r=0.339, p=0.003) and inversely correlated with E/A ratio (r=-0.243, p=0.034). In patient group, torsion showed positive correlation with TIMP (r=0.315, p=0.023, Fig A). SL significantly correlated with TIMP (r=0.271, p=0.044, Fig B), whereas SR and SC were not. Moreover, significant correlation between SL and Tei index (r=0.396, p=0.002) was found. Conclusion: Assessment of SL and torsion by speckle tracking provides useful information for evaluating the impact of myocardial fibrosis on LV performance in hypertensives.