Background Previous studies showed that preservation of microvascular integrity after myocardial ischemia was associated with myocardial viability. Real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) is a promising modality for non-invasive evaluation of microcirculation perfusion. Thus, it provides a unique tool to detect myocardial viability. We sought in this study to investigate the role of RT-MCE in predicting left ventricular (LV) functional recovery and remodeling after revascularization in patients with ischemic heart disease.Methods Thirty-one patients with ischemic heart disease and resting regional LV dysfunction were included. LV volume,global and regional function were evaluated by echocardiography before and 6-9 months after revascularization.RT-MCE was performed before revascularization using low mechanical index power modulation imaging. Myocardial contrast opacification of dysfunctional segments was scored on a 3-point scale and mean contrast score in dysfunctional segments was calculated. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to mean contrast score in dysfunctional segments: group A, patients with mean contrast score ≥0.5 (n=19); group B, patients with mean contrast score ＜ 0.5(n=12).Results Wall motion improvement was found to be 94.5%, 45.5% and 16.1% respectively (P＜0.01) in homogenous,patchy and absent contrast opacification segments. At baseline, there was no significant difference in LV volume and global function between the two groups. After revascularization, group B had significantly larger LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), lower LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and higher wall motion score index(WMSI) than those of group A (all P＜0.05). Revascularization was followed by significant improvement of LV volume and recovery of global LV function in group A (all P＜0.01); however, in group B, after revascularization, deterioration of LVEDV (P＜0.05) was observed, moreover LVESV, WMSI and LVEF did not change significantly.Conclusions The maintenance of myocardial microcirculation detected by RT-MCE can predict functional recovery and LV remodeling after revascularization in patients with ischemic heart disease, which might be helpful in clinical decision-making and risk stratification.