ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the peak systolic longitudinal velocity in patients with single-vessel coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) by velocity vector imaging (VVI) for assessment of left ventricular (LV) segmental systolic function. Methods 32 patients with single-vessel CHD (CHD group） and 32 age-matched control subjects were enrolled in our study. All the CHD patients with a single-vessel coronary lumen stenosis 50%-90% underwent coronary arteriography. According to the different location of the coronary lumen stenosis, the 32 CHD patients were divide into three groups: left anterior descending artery (LAD) group (n = 16), left circumflex artery (LCX) group (n = 7) and the right coronary artery (RCA) group (n = 9). The dynamic images of 18 LV segments were acquired from all CHD patients and control subjects via the standard echocardiographic views of apical four-chamber, two-chamber and apical left ventricular long axis. The corresponding values of peak systolic longitudinal velocity of 18 LV segments were measured and compared.Results Compared to the control group, the values of peak systolic longitudinal velocity obtained from regional myocardium with corresponding coronary artery stenosis in three CHD groups(LAD group,LCX group and RCA group) are significantly decreased (P<0.05 ).The values of peak systolic longitudinal velocity were recorded as Control group (mean ± SD,cm/s ) vs CHD group (mean ± SD,cm/s) in following three groups: (1) LAD group (n = 16) including basal anterior segments( 4.96 0.45,cm/s vs 3.88 0.25,cm/s), middle anterior segments ( 2.92 0.44,cm/s vs 2.20 0.21,cm/s),basal anteroseptal segments(4.99 0.41,cm/s vs 3.90 0.35,cm/s) and middle anteroseptal segments(2.97 0.44 ,cm/s vs 2.23 0.21,cm/s). (2) LCX group (n = 7) including basal anterolateral segments(4.95 0.43 ,cm/s vs 4.18 0.26 ,cm/s) and middle anterolateral segments(2.95 0.42,cm/s vs 2.20 0.27,cm/s). (3) RCA group (n = 9) including basal inferior segments(4.94 0.45,cm/s vs 3.76 0.42,cm/s) and middle inferior segments(2.96 0.42,cm/s vs 2.02 0.33,cm/s) .In addition, in the control group, the values of peak systolic longitudinal velocity displayed as a gradient decrease from the basal to the apical segment, and the VVI three-dimensional(3D) imaging as a symmetrical "V" shape. These characteristic changes were not shown in LAD, LCX and RCA CHD group. Conclusion Measurements of peak systolic longitudinal velocity via VVI provide a useful method for evaluating the segmental left ventricular systolic function in patients with single-vessel coronary heart disease.