Background Quantitatively assessing myocardial perfusion and its reserve is of great importance for the diagnosis and stratification of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and represents an important goal of myocardial contrast echocardiography. In this study we sought to test the usefulness of low dose dobutamine stress real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) in the assessment of CAD, and to explore the relationship between perfusion reserve and contractile reserve.Methods Twenty-six patients with suspected or clinical diagnosed CAD were enrolled and underwent RT-MCE at baseline and under low dose dobutamine stress, and subsequent coronary angiography. RT-MCE images were analyzed quantitatively from microbubble replenishment curves for myocardial perfusion and its reserve. Results At baseline, significant differences in beta (0.28±0.12, 0.25±0.09, 0.22±0.06, 0.20±0.07 respectively, P<0.01) and A×beta (1.37±0.46, 1.28±0.47, 1.13±0.37, 0.91±0.32, respectively, P<0.01) were observed among four segment groups with graded coronary artery stenosis severity (normal; 30%-69% stenosis; 70%-90% stenosis; and beyond 90% stenosis), but not observed in parameter A. When under stress, significant differences in A (5.73±1.28, 5.63±1.01, 4.96±0.81, 4.57±0.62, respectively, P<0.01), beta (0.67±0.17, 0.55±0.19, 0.32±0.13, 0.25±0.08, respectively, P<0.01) and A×beta (3.81±1.20, 3.11±1.17, 1.59±0.82, 1.12±0.37, respectively, P<0.01) were observed among the formerly mentioned groups. Graded decreases in A reserve (1.20±0.53, 1.11±0.16, 0.98±0.12, 0.99±0.13, respectively, P<0.01), beta reserve (2.65±1.07, 2.32±0.82, 1.44±0.40, 1.29±0.34,respectively, P<0.01) and A×beta reserve (3.05±1.63, 2.59±1.01, 1.42±0.44, 1.27±0.34, respectively, P<0.01) could also be observed with increasing coronary stenosis severity. In five segments groups scored by WMS (1-5), concordance between contractile function and myocardial perfusion could be found both at rest (beta: 0.28±0.11, 0.22±0.08, 0.21±0.05, 0.17±0.05, 0.19±0.06, respectively, P<0.01; A×beta: 1.29±0.48, 0.98±0.45, 0.94±0.29, 0.76±0.30, 0.92±0.32, respectively, P<0.01) and under stress (beta: 0.59±0.20, 0.35±0.15, 0.27±0.08, 0.17±0.05, 0.20±0.05, respectively, P<0.01; A×beta: 3.07±1.38, 1.62±0.82, 1.28±0.40, 0.78±0.24, 0.93±0.22, respectively, P<0.01). This concordance is also valid in terms of the reserves, and the MCE parameters in segments with ameliorated contractile function are significantly higher than in those without. Conclusions Quantitative RT-MCE in conjunction with dobutamine stress shows promise in identifying and stratifying CAD and in exploring the perfusion-contractile correlation. Background Quantitatively assessing myocardial perfusion and its reserve is of great importance for the diagnosis and stratification of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and representing an important goal of myocardial contrast echocardiography. In this study we sought to test the usefulness of low dose dobutamine stress real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) in the assessment of CAD, and to explore the relationship between perfusion reserve and contractile reserve. Methods Twenty-six patients with suspected or clinically diagnosed CAD were enrolled and underwent RT-MCE at baseline and under low dose dobutamine stress, and subsequent coronary angiography. RT-MCE images were analyzed quantitatively from microbubble replenishment curves for myocardial perfusion and its reserve. Results At baseline, significant differences in beta (0.28 ± 0.12, 0.25 ± 0.09, 0.22 ± 0.06 , 0.20 ± 0.07 respectively, P <0.01) and A × beta (1.37 ± 0.46, 1.28 ± 0.47, 1.13 ± 0.37, 0.91 ± 0.32, respec tively, P <0.01) were observed among four segment groups with graded coronary artery stenosis severity (normal; 30% -69% stenosis; 70% -90% stenosis; and beyond 90% stenosis) but not observed in parameter A. When (0.67 ± 0.17, 0.55 ± 0.19, 0.32 ± 0.13, 0.25 ± 0.08, respectively, P <0.01), under stress, significant differences in A (5.73 ± 1.28, 5.63 ± 1.01, 4.96 ± 0.81, 4.57 ± 0.62, respectively, (1.20 ± 0.53, P <0.01) and A × beta (3.81 ± 1.20, 3.11 ± 1.17, 1.59 ± 0.82, 1.12 ± 0.37, respectively, P <0.01) (1.11 ± 0.16, 0.98 ± 0.12, 0.99 ± 0.13, respectively, P <0.01), beta reserve (2.65 ± 1.07, 2.32 ± 0.82, 1.44 ± 0.40, 1.29 ± 0.34, respectively, P <0.01) 3.05 ± 1.63, 2.59 ± 1.01, 1.42 ± 0.44, 1.27 ± 0.34, respectively, P <0.01) In five segments groups scored by WMS (1-5), concordance between contractile function and myocardial perfusion could be f ound both at rest (beta: 0.28 ± 0.11,0.22 ± 0.08, 0.21 ± 0.05, 0.17 ± 0.05, 0.19 ± 0.06, respectively, P <0.01; A × beta: 1.29 ± 0.48, 0.98 ± 0.45, 0.94 ± 0.29, 0.76 ± 0.30, 0.92 ± 0.32, respectively, P < 0.01) and under stress (beta: 0.59 ± 0.20, 0.35 ± 0.15, 0.27 ± 0.08, 0.17 ± 0.05, 0.20 ± 0.05, respectively, P <0.01; A × beta: 3.07 ± 1.38, 1.62 ± 0.82, 1.28 ± 0.40, 0.78 ± 0.24, 0.93 ± 0.22, respectively, P <0.01). This concordance is also valid in terms of the reserves, and the MCE parameters in segments with a meliorated contractile function are significantly higher than in those without. Conclusions Quantitative RT-MCE in conjunction with dobutamine stress shows promise in identifying and stratifying CAD and in exploring the perfusion-contractile correlation.