Fig. (7) MMPs 60 – 90 kDa proteolytic activities (A) and digested area (B) from plasma samples of CAD and non-CAD patients. Six aleatory samples to be tested were used, sera 1, 2 and 3 from NCAD, sera 4, 5 and 6 from CAD - three from each group. The zymography was developed on 10% polyacrylamide gel, copolymerized with 0.1% gelatin. The digested area were measured after zymography (p < 0.0001, non-paired T test) (Imag J 1.41, Wayne Rasband, National Institutes of Health, USA). Data were considered significant when p < 0.05 with a C.I. of 95%. For standardization, each assay was done in triplicate, and shown a maximum Coefficient of Variation (C.V.) of 9.98%. CAD = carotid disease, non-CAD = non-carotid disease, MMP = Metalloproteinases, BK = Blank, and MM = molecular weight marker.