Abstract: Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a complex disease affected by genetic and environmental factors. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is one of the key factors of the aorta wall extracellular matrix degeneration. This article reviews the mechanism of MMPs in abdominal aortic aneurysm progression and the relationship between MMPs gene polymorphisms and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Analysis shows that the MMPs family proteins play an important role in the pathology process of abdominal aortic aneurysm. MMP2, 3, 9 gene polymorphisms are associated with the occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm.