ObjectiveTo observe the dynamic changes of the concentrations of serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, and to discuss its clinical significance. MethodsFrom January to May 2014, 50 cases of clinically diagnosed cerebral infarction patients were included in the study as the cerebral infarction group, and we randomly selected 30 healthy volunteers at the same time in the same age group as the control group. The serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 of patients with acute cerebral infarction were detected in the onset of 24 hours, 7th day and 14th day respectively, which were compared with the control group accordingly. The patients with cerebral infarction were divided into small infarction group (1.5-3.0 cm), middle infarction group (3.1-5.0 cm) and large infarction group (>5.0 cm) according to the infraction volume. According to neurological functional deficit score they were divided into mild (0-15 points), moderate (16-30 points) and severe group (31-45 points). Changes of the level of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were compared in patients with different cerebral infarction volume and different impairment degree. ResultsFor the cerebral infarction group, the serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in the onset of 24 hours, 7th day and 14th day[MMP-2:(2.36±0.76), (2.86±0.87), and (2.20±0.79) ng/mL; MMP-9:(238.8±99.6), (360.4±141.8), and (152.2±80.4) ng/mL] than the control group[MMP-2:(1.20±0.27) ng/mL; MMP-9:(124.8±28.2) ng/mL] (P<0.05). The larger the infarction volume was in the patients with acute ischemic stroke, the higher the levels of serum MMP-9 and MMP-2. The severer the neurologic impairment degree was in the patients with acute ischemic stroke, the higher the levels of serum MMP-9 and MMP-2 were. ConclusionFor patients with acute cerebral infarction, the levels of serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 are closely related to time of onset, infarct volume and neurological deficits, which can be used as an important basis to estimate the condition and assess the prognosis.