INFLUENCE OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA, TESTOSTERONE AND AGE ON SERUM LEVELS OF PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and PSA-density (PSAd) were studied in 120 symptomatic patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia at digital rectal examination. PSA and PSAd were measured before and 3 months af ter transurethral resection. Comparisons were made between patients in whom histologic examination showed benign hyperplasia and those with histologically demonstrated prostatic cancer. The influence of age and of serum testosterone on PSA and PSAd was determined. PSAd in benign prostatic hyperplasia was the same in the transition zone (the adenoma s) and the peripheral zone (mean 0.065), indicating no increased synth esis or leakage of PSA. PSAd with cut-off value 0.10 ng x ml(-1) cc(-1 ) showed higher sensitivity and positive predictive value (75% vs 50% and 0.33 vs 0.15, respectively) in nonpalpable prostatic cancer than d id PSA with cut-off at 4 ng x ml(-1). No statistically significant inf luence of testosterone and/or age on serum-PSA or PSAd was found.