['Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) system, and fibrinolytic system, have been implicated as important factors in atherosclerosis and vascular remodeling. However, no data are yet available on the associations between these two systems in relation to carotid atherosclerosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients.', 'We compared plasma levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2; the parameters of fibrinolytic system: tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR) and its soluble receptor (suPAR), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes; high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP) as a marker of inflammation and a surrogate of atherosclerotic disease-intima media thickness (IMT) in HD patients and in healthy controls.', 'The values of the uPA, suPAR, PAP, MMP-2, TIMPs, hs CRP and IMT in the patients significantly exceeded those in controls. The concentrations of MMP-9, tPA and PAI-1 were similar in both investigated groups. uPA, uPAR and PAP were positively associated with MMP-2/TIMPs system; all mentioned above parameters (except TIMP-2) and hsCRP were associated with IMT. Multivariate analysis showed that uPA, MMP-2 and age were the strong independent variables linked to IMT values in HD patients.'] Are urokinase-type plasminogen activator and metalloproteinase-2 independently related to the carotid atherosclerosis in haemodialysis patients?