[The relation between granulocyte elastase activity in cervical mucus and gestational cervical polyp].

Granulocyte elastase activity in cervical mucus (elastase activity) was measured in pregnant women (10-20 gestational weeks) with cervical polyp and controls (gravida with no cervical polyp). Elastase activity in the cervical polyp group was 86 +/- 44 U/l, and that in the control group was 22 +/- 13 (p less than 0.01). Elastase activity after polypectomy was 44 +/- 24. It decreased significantly compared with prepolypectomy (p less than 0.05). A high level of elastase activity continued in cases without polypectomy. Immunohistochemical staining of elastase for cervical polyps was also performed. In the low elastase staining group there was low elastase activity (46 +/- 26 U/l). Elastase activity in the moderate staining group was 89 +/- 31, and that in the intense staining group was 114 +/- 31. As for the prognosis of patients with cervical polyps, the occurrence rate of chorioamnionitis is 9% in the control group, 14% in the polyp with polypectomy group and 40% in the polyp without polypectomy group. There was a significant difference between the polyp without polypectomy group and other groups (p less than 0.01). These data suggest that cervical polyp is a focus of inflammation and that it may cause chorioamnionitis. We conclude that cervical polyp during pregnancy should be removed. If polypectomy could not be performed, local anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious therapy would be needed.