[Myocardial infarction and rectocolonic polyps].

The prevalence of polyps in the rectum and sigmoid colon was estimated in 103 patients with recent myocardial infarction and 200 controls. All patients were asymptomatic and older than 35 years. A flexible proctosigmoidoscopy was performed. One or more adenomatous polyps were found in 19.6 p. 100 of patients with myocardial infarction and in 16.2 p. 100 of controls (difference not statistically significant). In males, the odds ratio for adenomatous polyps was 0.92 (confidence limits, 0.43-1.93). Acceptability of the flexible rectosigmoidoscopy was excellent in controls and poor in patients with myocardial infarction (1.0 p. 100 and 26.4 p. 100 of patients respectively refused this procedure). Tolerance, bowel preparation and the length of the explored rectosigmoid were not different. There was no statistically significant difference in the site, number or size of polyps. This study shows a high prevalence of polyps in patients with myocardial infarction and control groups although not statistically different. Consequently, a screening procedure for polyps is not indicated in patients with myocardial infarction.