A synthesis of available evidence suggested that MMP9–1562C/T polymorphism was a risk factor for CHD (Liu et al., 2013), and MMP9 serum levels were consistently associated with markers of carotid atherosclerosis and lesion vulnerability (Blankenberg et al., 2003; Tanner et al., 2011; Silvello et al., 2014). This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and carotid atherosclerosis.