Introduction: Increased extracellular matrix (EM) plays an important role in most of the cardiovascular (CV) diseases. In diabetes mellitus (DM), amount of EM in the heart and vessel were increased. Because of that arterial stiffness were increased in DM Recent studies reported central artery stiffness have an important risk factor for future CV event. But there were no studies about relation of central artery stiffness and changes of EM in diabetic patients. This study aims to evaluate the relation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)/tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) changes and central arterial stiffness in ype 2 DM. Methods We performed echocardiography (echo) and aortic pulse wave velocity (APWV) and augmentation index (AIx) measurement in 40 subjects (19 type 2 DM 54.2짹10.9 yrs and 21 gender matched controls 59.5짹9.3) We measured the concentrations of serum h-proMMP-1, hMMP-2, hMMP-9 and hTIMP-1 Results All the echo parameters were not different between the 2 groups. Compared with the control subjects, type 2 DM patients had a increased APWV (DM 8.27짹2.1 Vs control 7.03짹0.9 p=0.025 ), and central AI corrected HR 75%( 24.16짹13.80 Vs 14.71짹10.43 p =0.021 ). MMP-2(1149짹17 Vs 927.98짹171.76 ng /ml , p = 0.037 ) and TIMP-1(190.32짹28.56 Vs 180.35짹101.11 ng /ml p= 0.012 ) were significantly increased in the diabetes group than in the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, heart rate, (SBP?), DBP, BMI, Lipid profile, ESR, hs-CRP . Conclusion Our results imply that the MMP2 and TIMP may play an important role in determination of central arterial stiffness in diabetic patients. Prevention of collagen accumulation is important therapeutic target for prevention of central artery stiffness.