This paper describes the hydrolytic degradation of three stereoregular poly(ester amides) which were obtained by polycondensation reaction of 1-amino-1-deoxy-2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-5-O-[(pentachlorophenoxy)succinyl]-L-arabinitol, 1-amino-1-deoxy-2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-5-O-[(pentachlorophenoxy)glutaryl]-L-arabinitol, and 1-amino-1-deoxy-2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-5-O-[(pentachlorophenoxy)succinyl]-D-xylitol hydrochlorides. The degradation study was carried out at 37 degrees C in bidistilled water and/or in buffered salt solution at pH 7.4, and was monitored by mass loss, GPC, SEM, and FAB-MS, IR, and NMR spectroscopies. The hydrolytic degradation of these poly(ester amides) occurs by hydrolysis of the ester linkages and is characterized by rapid rates of hydrolysis. The differences in degradation rates are ascribed to differences in crystallinity and hydrophilicity of the polymers. Our results show that the poly(ester amides) derived from succinic anhydride degrade to a final monomeric product in which a succinimide ring has been formed.