Objective: To summarise which metalloproteinases and specific inhibitors have been already described, their regulatory mechanisms in obstetric complications. Design: A literature review. Setting: Department of Gynecology Obstetric and University Hospital, Palacký University,Olomouc. Abstracts: The invasion of extravillous trophoblast cells into the maternal endometrium is one of the key events in human placentation. The ability of these cells to infiltrate the uterine wall and to anchor the placenta to it as well as their ability to infiltrate and adjust utero-placental vessels to pregnancy depends, among other things, on their ability to secrete enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix. Most of these enzymes belong to the family of matrix metalloproteinases. In the literature review, we focus on the role of these proteases in normal pregnancy as well as on their importance in the development of some pregnancy complications.

        Key words: metalloproteinases, preeclampsia, preterm delivery