Lysozyme in cervical mucus of patients with chorioamnionitis

Lysozyme and lactoferrin, antimicrobial substances present in cervical mucus, play an important role in defense mechanisms against ascending infections in development of chorioamnionitis (CAM). In this study, we measured the concentration of lysozyme in cervical mucus, and studied its relationship with other factors, and obtained following results. The concentration of lysozyme in cervical mucus decreased more significantly in positive CAM in preterm labor than in negative CAM and control subjects (P < 0.001). A direct correlation between the concentrations of lysozyme and lactoferrin was observed (r = 0.709). In positive CAM, the concentration of elastase in cervical mucus reached a significantly high level (more than 8,000 micrograms/L), and a no correlation between the concentrations of elastase and lysozyme was observed. These findings suggest a reduction of the defense mechanism occurred because the concentrations of both lysozyme and lactoferrin in cervical mucus during preterm labor (positive CAM) decreased.