Introduction: Despite the fact that congestive heart failure (CHF) remains the most common disease in the developed world and has been extensively studied, there is little known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction. Angiotensin has been implicated as a mediator of cardiac injury; however, the mechanisms of its action have not been delineated. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the haemodynamic and molecular events during cardiac dysfunction and the role of the angiotensin system.