Objective To explore the differences of serum expression of cystatin C,macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1)in elderly patients with coronary artery disease.Methods 120 cases of senile cor-onary heart disease patients in the department of cardiovascular medicine from July 2010 to August 2012 were selected and divided into the control group (n=30),stable angina pectoris group(SAP group,n= 34),unstable angina group (UA group,n=28)and a-cute myocardial infarction group (AMI group,n=28)according to the results of coronary arteriography combined with the electro-cardiogram and myocardial enzyme spectrum test.The serum levels of cystatin C,MIF,MMP-1 and C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were compared among the four groups,and correlations of the four indicators were analysed as well.Results There were significant differences in the serum levels of cystatin C,MIF,MMP-1 and hs-CRP among the four groups(P <0.05).The serum levels of cys-tatin C,MIF and MMP-1 were gradually increased with the progression of disease,and significant differences were found between any two groups(P <0.05).There were significant differences in the levels of hs-CRP between the AIM group and the other three groups(P <0.05).While among the control group,SPA group and UA group,no significant differences were found in the levels of hs-CRP between any two groups(P >0.05).The significant positive correlations were observed among cystatin C,MIF and MMP-1.Conclusion The serum levels of cystatin C,MIF and MMP-1 have a gradually increasing trend with disease progression in pa-tients with coronary heart disease,which could be important indicators of disease evaluation.