A 64 year diabetic and hypertensive male suffering from ischaemic heart disease developed two episodes of syncopal attacks in quick succession followed by coffee-brown vomiting. He was in a state of shock following upper G.I. bleeding induced hypotension for which he was resuscitated with blood transfusion, volume repletion and inotropic support. Echo-doppler study during inotropic therapy showed hypercontractile LV with LVOT obstruction and gradient of 100 mm Hg across the LVOT. After the volume repletion echo-doppler study was repeated; the LVOT obstruction and the gradient across it was absent in repeat Echodoppler study. So echo-doppler study during inotropic treatment of shock in pre-existing hypertensive background (LVH) may temporarily mimic the haemodynamic findings of HOCM which disappears after stabilization of the shock state.