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Objective Elevated blood pressure causes a change in arterial remodelling by altering extracellular matrix composition. However, whether matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is altered in the change of large arterial compliance in prehypertensive subjects has been incompletely investigated. Method According to the criteria of JNC7, 180 subjects were divided into three groups: (1) normotensive group (n=58), (2) prehypertensive group (n=62) and (3) hypertensive group (n=60). Brachium-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) was measured by an automatic waveform analyser (form PWV/ ABI) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was determined ultrasonographically. MMP-2 mRNA level were obtained by real time RT-PCR. Result In prehypertensives, MMP-2, baPWV and IMT levels are higher than that in normotensives (p<0.01) and lower than that in hypertensives (p<0.01). MMP-2 mRNA level correlated linearly and signifi cantly with baPWV and IMT (p<0.01), even after adjustments for confounding variables. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that MMP-2, SBP and age were the independent risk factors of BaPWV and IMT.