CHANGES IN POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN THE VAGINA OF PATIENTS WITH PRETERM LABOR

To evaluate changes in vaginal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (vPMNL) in patients with preterm labor, we obtained vPMNL-rich suspensions from vaginal fluids of 77 women (21 with preterm labor and 56 control women with uncomplicated pregnancy). Total counts of vPMNL and % viability of vPMNL (viable vPMNL:total vPMNL) were significantly higher in patie nts with preterm labor (37 +/- 92 x 10(5), 23 +/- 29%) vs. controls (1 1 +/- 15 x 10(5), 6.9 +/- 8.3%), The concentration of granulocyte elas tase in vaginal fluid diluted to 20 mi was also higher in patients wit h preterm labor than in controls (4,806 +/- 3,818 vs, 2,739 +/- 2,556 ng/ml), We conclude that PMNL and granulocyte elastase are abundant in the vagina in patients with preterm labor, which suggests that the PM NL may be involved in the pathogenesis of preterm labor.