Indices based on early systolic ejection rates are theoretically more sensitive to ventricular performance than indices based on the entire systolic ejection (SE) period (mean ejection phase indices-MEPI): mean systolic ejection rate (MSER), mean normalized systolic ejection rate (MNSER) and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (MVcf). The volume ejected in early systole is an indicator of the early rate of ejection. Accordingly, ventricular volume changes were determined by ventriculographic analysis for each thrid of SE in ml/sec (SER), as normalized systolic ejection rate (NSER), and as percent of stroke volume (PSV). In ten normal controls all these indices were higher in the first third compared to the other thirds of SE. Seven patients with diffuse ventricular disease had depressed values in the first third of SE. Despite "normal ventriculograms and normal MEPI, eight patients with left anterior descending coronary artery stenoses (greater than 60%) also had definitely depressed ejection indices during first third of systole. Detailed wall motion analysis in this group showed anteroapical hypokinesis isolated to the first third of SE. These data show that indices based on early SER are more sensitive than MEPI (MVcf, MNSER) for detecting abnormalities in ventricular performance in coronary artery disease;