Aim To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （TIMP-1）, and relationship between MMP-9, TIMP-1 and microalbuminuria （MAU） in essential hypertension patients with early renal damage. Methods A total of 120 essential hypertension patients with early renal damage in our hospital were selected from January 2012 to September 2013, and then were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group. The observation group was given atorvastatin 10 mg,qn and metoprolol 25～100 mg/d. The control group was given metoprolol 25～100 mg/d. After continuous treatment for 12 weeks, the folIowing indexes were detected at the beginning and end of the study: MAU, MMP-9 and TIMP-1. The microalbuminuria was calculated by urinary albumin and creatinine ratio. Results There was a significant difference in systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, MAU, MMP-9, TIMP-1, triglyceride （TG）, total cholesterol （TC）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC） and heart rate in the observation group before and after treatment （P<0.05）. There was a significant difference in MAU, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TG, TC, LDLC between the observation group and the control group （P<0.05）. There was a significant difference in systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and heart rate in the control group before and after treatment （P<0.05）. The MMP-9 was positively related and the TIMP-1 was negatively related to the MAU in the essential hypertension. Multiple stepwise regression showed that systolic pressure, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were three independent factors of the MAU. Conclusion The mechanism of renoprotection of atorvastatin may be related to improvement of the glomerular extracellular matrix degradation.