Conclusions  The patients with inguinal hernia have a statistically significant increase in serum levels of MMP‐2. Our finding of the MMP‐2 and TIMP‐2 distinctly higher in the patients suffering from recurrence of direct inguinal hernia (reflecting a previous surgical failure) may suggest the theory that the extracellular matrix defect lies at the basis of this disorder. (Source: European Journal of Clinical Investigation)