Consistent with our results, plasma MMP-9 in patients with UA, AMI, and carotid artery stenosis have been found elevated compared to controls (Kai et al., 1998; Ferroni et al., 2003; Renko et al., 2004; Tziakas et al., 2006; Taurino et al., 2007), even similar finding from urine (Fitzsimmons et al., 2007). Here, MMP9 is linked to coronary atherosclerosis measurement.