The article will discuss PSA indicators for prostate adenoma. Such a blood test is performed to exclude the malignant nature of the tumor. If cancer cells are present in a man’s prostate, she begins to synthesize a large amount of glycoprotein, which is a prostate-specific antigen.
PSA values for prostate adenoma depend on the age of the patient. It should be understood that it is impossible to establish an accurate diagnosis based on the results of only one study. Deviation from the norm only indicates the need for other diagnostic procedures: biopsy, MRI, CT.
The importance of PSA in the diagnosis of pathology
First, about why you need to donate blood for PSA with prostate adenoma.
Cancer, inflammation, BPH are characterized by similar signs, therefore, determining an accurate diagnosis and prescribing therapy without a thorough diagnosis is impossible. With prostate adenoma, oncology, prostatitis in men, the following clinical symptoms are noted:
- Deterioration of general condition (insomnia, poor appetite, depression, weakness).
- Discharge from the penis that has blood streaks, purulent or mucous in nature.
- Potency deterioration (delayed ejaculation, premature ejaculation, inadequate arousal, weakened libido).
- Difficult urination, accompanied by a constant feeling of a full bladder.
- Soreness in the groin, lower abdomen, aggravated by erection and going to the toilet.
An enlarged prostate can be detected by a urologist during a rectal examination. However, to determine what kind of tumor the tumor is (benign or malignant) by probing is impossible. Therefore, the patient is recommended to take a blood sample for examination on the level of PSA with prostate adenoma.
Why do small deviations occur?
Small deviations from normal values are not cause for concern. Often this happens under the influence of external factors: physical exertion, excitement, massage, recent sexual contact. Repeated examination, if the excess is not provoked by the disease, will show a normal result.
Hyperplasia, exacerbation of prostatitis or cancer?
If the deviation is large and is 20-40% higher than normal, then we can assume hyperplasia or exacerbation of prostatitis. Excessive excess (several times) indicates the likelihood of developing cancer.
The PSA level is analyzed in parallel with other investigated data: biopsy, CT, ultrasound, biochemical examination of urine and blood samples. The specialist can make a final diagnosis only on the basis of the results of a comprehensive examination.
Cancer, prostatitis, adenoma at the initial stages of their development, as a rule, are asymptomatic, therefore it is recommended that men be examined by a urologist and take PSA tests every year for prevention. If a person is at risk (after exposure, with irregular sex life, sedentary work), then a routine examination should be done every six months. Even more often, men from 50 years old need to be tested.
Study preparation
To determine the exact PSA level for a man, preliminary preparation is required before the delivery of the biomaterial. Distortion of the results can occur if on the eve of a digital examination of the prostate, rectal massage. Therefore, biomaterial should be taken at least a day after these procedures. In addition, you should consider:
- Before a PSA test, antibiotic medications, hormonal drugs against tumors, drugs that can suppress androgen synthesis should not be taken for two weeks.
- You can not conduct a study if infectious pathologies (in particular, the genitourinary tract) are in the acute phase.
- An elevated antigen level after a biopsy lasts for 20 days. During this period, it does not make sense to examine blood for a prostate-specific antigen.
A day before the delivery of biomaterial, a man is recommended to abandon sex and sports training. In addition, excitement and stress must be avoided. Food during the day before sampling a blood sample is necessary to eat non-acute and non-greasy. It is equally important to give up alcohol (even weak) and smoking. For 8 hours before taking a blood sample, only plain water without gas is allowed.
Biological material delivery
To determine the level of PSA, you will need to donate venous blood. This procedure takes no more than 5 minutes. The nurse first imposes a tourniquet on the area above the elbow, then treats the skin at the puncture site with alcohol.
Blood is taken in an amount of 3-5 ml. Research in the laboratory is carried out on the day of biomaterial collection. The very next morning, the patient can get the results of the study. If the clinic is private, then for a fee, the result can be obtained within a few hours.
Now, what should be the PSA indicators for prostate adenoma is normal.
Deviations from the norm
This antigen constantly produces the prostate. It accumulates in the blood and seminal fluid. The PSA rate for prostate adenoma depends on age.
If a man has any pathology, then the amount of synthesized antigen increases significantly. In laboratories, for the purpose of diagnosis, the biomaterial is subjected to certain manipulations, which allow not only to calculate the PSA level, but also to determine in what proportions its fractions are present. This makes it possible to identify the degree of risk separately for cancer, adenoma, prostatitis.
An important indicator is the proportion of the content of free and specific PSA in the blood. Such names have antigen states. It may be bound to alpha-1-antichymotrypsin or another plasma protein, or it may remain free. With moderate excess, a benign prostate tumor is most often diagnosed. If a very high PSA is found with prostate adenoma, then the likelihood of cancerous growth increases. Given the ratio of fractions to the general level, the diagnostician can determine the percentage probability of developing adenoma or oncology.
PSA indicators for prostate adenoma, taking into account age
In the process of deciphering the results, the specialist, first of all, takes into account two main indicators: the ratio of each PSA fraction to its general level, as well as a comparison with age norms. To determine the latter, the established indicators of total PSA for men are used:
- 19-40 years old - 1.4 ng / ml;
- 40-59 - 2.5 ng / ml;
- 60-69 years old - 3.5 ng / ml;
- from 70 years old - 6.5 ng / ml.
The likelihood of cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia can be excluded if the concentration of free PSA exceeds the level of total PSA by 26%. If the specified parameter is in the range of 10-26%, then the likelihood of adenoma or prostatitis is quite high. With oncological pathologies, this indicator is less than 10%.
Increased PSA with prostate adenoma by 0.2-1 points from the normal indicator may indicate the likelihood of developing prostate pathologies, but this probability is only 8%. If the indicator is exceeded by 3-4 points, then almost certainly the patient has a urological disease (70% - that this is hyperplasia or prostatitis, 30% - oncology). Exceeding more than 4 points (80%) indicates that cancer is most likely present. The worst indicator is a PSA result in excess of 30 ng / ml - the likelihood of oncology is 94% or more.
Clarifying Studies
In order to determine the exact reasons for the increase in the concentration of antigen in the blood, the patient is prescribed further studies. Cancer and adenoma can be differentiated using TRUS, CT, MRI, and biopsy of prostate tissue. Having received the results of all diagnostic procedures, the doctor analyzes the dependence of PSA on the size and condition of the prostate, determines the exact diagnosis and prescribes the necessary therapy: preventive monitoring, drug treatment, physiotherapy, and surgery.
After prostatectomy
If the patient underwent surgery on the prostate (in particular, prostatectomy), he should regularly take blood samples for examination. This is required for the timely detection of the re-development of pathology (in about 40% of patients undergoing RPE, relapse occurs, and in 95% of cases within the next 5 years after surgical therapy).
In patients after surgery, normal PSA values differ significantly from PSA values in healthy men. It is necessary to take the analysis at least a month and a half after surgery (conducting a study earlier than this period does not make sense - the result will be distorted). After prostatectomy, the optimal amount of antigen synthesis should be no more than 0.2 ng / ml if the man is less than 60 years old, and 0.5-0.7 ng / ml if the patient is older than 60 years.
With complete removal of the prostate
In the case when the man has completely removed the prostate (performed radical prostatectomy), the PSA should always be at the level of 0 ng / ml. Any deviation from the indicated concentration indicates the likelihood of developing cancer: more than 0.2 ng / ml - the probability is 25%, more than 0.5 ng / ml - 78%.
How to reduce PSA in prostate adenoma will be described below.
Ways to reduce the concentration of PSA
There are several ways to reduce the concentration of antigen in the blood. However, it should be borne in mind that these methods allow you to get only a short-term result that lasts several days. After this, the concentration of PSA returns to its previous value.
You can lower the antigen by eating only certain foods during the day: green tea, broccoli, tomatoes, pomegranate. In this case, the concentration of PSA will decrease by 0.2-0.4 points. In addition, thiazide diuretic drugs and drugs that can lower cholesterol can reduce antigen levels.
Perceive the described methods as a means of therapy should not be. This is due to the fact that for a permanent decrease in PSA levels, removal of prostate adenoma is necessary. This antigen is just an indicator of pathology. Its elimination leads to the normalization of glycoprotein levels.
So, how to reduce PSA in prostate adenoma? The best way to treat adenoma is surgery.
With the help of medications, you can only suspend the growth of the prostate. For this purpose, drugs that inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, androgenic drugs, for example, Testosterone Propionate, Raveron, Methyltestosterone, can be used. Some folk remedies can also prevent the development of adenoma, the use of which should be agreed with the doctor:
- Asparagus and pumpkin seeds. The likelihood of developing BPH drops by 20% if you use these products at least 3-4 times a week.
- Infusion based on lemon peels and garlic. To make the product, half a liter of water should be filled with zest of 1 lemon and 10 cloves of garlic. You need to drink the drug once a day for 20 ml.
- Porridge made from walnuts and honey. Eat should be daily 2 tablespoons of funds.
Conclusion
It is important to understand that self-treatment of the disease can not only be useless, but also provoke complications. In this regard, it is necessary to periodically undergo preventive examinations by a urologist and timely pass the necessary tests. Only in this way will a man of any age be able to maintain the necessary level of PSA with prostate adenoma.