We hypothesized that MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 as well as TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 concentrations correlate with clinical and cytologic data and increase in different forms of chronic pneumopathy including RAO, inflammatory airway disease (IAD), and chronic interstitial pneumopathy (CIP). The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy.