The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 5 selected drugs on arterial stiffness and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) plasma activity in patients with essential arterial hypertension (HT).Material and methods: 95 pts. with HT stage 1 and 2, (N=19 in each treatment group) were treated for 6 months by: quinapril 20–40 mg/d (group-1), amlodipine 5–10mg/d (group-2), hydrochlorothiazide 12,5–25mg/d (group-3), losartan 50–100 mg/d (group 4), bisoprolol 5–10 mg/d (group-5). Before and then after 1,3 and 6 months of treatment office blood pressure (BP) was measured using Omron M5-I device. Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using 3 devices Complior®, Sphygmocor® and Arteriograph^TM.. Plasma concentration of (MMPs): MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9 and MMPs tissue inhibitor (TIMP1) was measured twice i.e. before and after 6 months of treatment using micro- ELISA method. Results: At the baseline no differences between groups were observed in BP, PWV and MMPs activity. ANOVA for repeated measurements revealed for all groups during treatment significant decrease in systolic BP (p<0.001), diastolic BP (p<0.001), PWV (p<0.001), MMP2 (p<0.05) and MMP3 (p<0.001) and increase of TIMP1 (p<0.001) plasma concentration. No between treatment groups differences were observed in above mentioned effects. Decrease of PWV was in significant relation to its baseline value (B= 0.498, p= 0.00041), decrease of MMP3 (B=0.211, p=0.0021 and increase of of TIMP1 (B=0.263, p= 0.0052). Conclusion:Antihypertensive treatment reduces arterial stiffness proportionally to its baseline value and independently of the used drug. The reduction of arterial stiffness depends on decrease of extracellular matrix degradation.