PSA protein is a prostate-specific antigen produced by the tissues of the prostate gland. This protein is required to liquefy male sperm. It should be noted that malignant neoplasms produce a greater amount of this substance. That is why PSA is used as a tumor marker for prostate cancer. At the same time, any pathological process can affect the amount of protein produced. Therefore, PSA analysis for prostatitis is mandatory. It will allow to identify oncology or adenoma.
Why Protein Levels Increase
To determine the level of protein, a general PSA blood test is given for prostatitis. The norm of the antigen is no more than 4 ng / ml. The production of this protein increases significantly during the formation of malignant cells. Otherwise, the production of antigen increases due to other factors:
- PSA levels can rise as a result of an infection that is accompanied by an inflammatory process. In this case, there is a violation of the barrier functions of tissues, which allows the substance to gradually penetrate into the blood.
- Proteincan more actively enter the bloodstream if the overgrown tissues with benign prostatic hyperplasia begin to put pressure on the rest of the tissues of the organ.
It is worth noting that PSA analysis for prostatitis allows you to identify any abnormalities and disorders in the functioning of the prostate gland. Most men who have an elevated antigen level do not suffer from oncology. Protein levels may increase as a result of bladder surgery or prostate biopsy, as well as ejaculation and prolonged exercise.
When an analysis is ordered
Not only with prostatitis, you need to take a PSA test. This laboratory test is assigned:
- To monitor the progress of prostate cancer. This allows you to check the effectiveness of the chosen therapy.
- If you suspect the formation of a tumor of the prostate. This may occur as a result of other studies: ultrasound, rectal digital examination, and so on.
- For prevention. This analysis is prescribed for men over 40 years of age to detect an increase in the level of PSA.
- After antitumor treatment, which was carried out after the discovery of prostate cancer. After such therapy, it is recommended to undergo such an examination every 3 months.
Preparing for analysis
To take a PSA test for prostatitis, you need to carefully prepare. Otherwise, the protein level readings will be incorrect. Specialistsrecommend:
- For 8 hours before donating blood, refuse to eat food, including alcohol, coffee, tea and juice.
- You should refrain from sexual intercourse 5-7 days before the test.
- The analysis should be taken 12-14 days after the examination by the urologist or before visiting this specialist.
- If prostate massage, transrectal ultrasound, bladder catheterization or cystoscopy, rectal finger examination or other mechanical effects on the prostate were performed, then the analysis should be taken 2 weeks after such research methods, and after a biopsy of prostate tissue - after 1 month.
Research is carried out in the laboratory within one day. For this, the patient needs to write out a referral from the attending physician, prepare, and then donate blood from a vein. In some cases, either total PSA or free antigen is required. This is required for an accurate diagnosis.
How to understand the results
PSA analysis for prostatitis can be interpreted in several ways. Antigen levels are usually measured in nanograms per milliliter of blood. At the same time, some experts argue that it is necessary to lower the minimum threshold to 2.5 ng / mg. This will, of course, allow more prostate diseases to be detected. However, there is a risk that doctors, as a result of such a test, will begin to treat cancer that is clinically irrelevant. When conducting a diagnosis, only three forms of protein are taken into account:
- Prostate free specific antigen. It is found in the blood and makes up only 20% of the total PSA level.
- Protein associated with a2-macroglobulin or a1-antichymotrypsin. Only the last type of antigen can be determined in the laboratory.
- Total PSA is the amount of protein that enters the bloodstream.
Indicating prostatitis
Prostatitis, in fact, is not a malignant disease. After all, it does not even increase the likelihood of developing cancer of the gland. However, regular monitoring of PSA levels allows the specialist to correctly adjust therapy aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process.
If the concentration of the antigen is from 4 to 10 ng / ml, then this may indicate the development of the following ailments:
- prostatitis;
- benign prostatic hyperplasia;
- prostate cancer, in this case, the risk of diagnosing this disease increases by 25%.
It is worth noting that experts call such an indicator of the PSA level a gray zone. If the concentration of the antigen increases by more than 10 ng / ml, then the probability of developing an oncological process increases by about 67%.
Often, the level of total PSA directly depends on the type of prostate disease. Such an analysis is often used for differential diagnosis.
How disease is defined
If analysisblood PSA total for prostatitis is carried out correctly, and the protein level is at least 4 ng / ml and not more than 10 ng / ml, then when making a diagnosis, doctors look at the following protein fractions and their ratios:
- Reducing the concentration of free antigen increases the risk of cancer. This is due to the fact that malignant cells produce a large amount of a1-atichymotrypsin. This increases the bound form of the protein.
- Increasing the concentration of free antigen, on the contrary, reduces the risk of developing oncology. Moreover, such an indicator may also indicate the presence of chronic prostatitis.
Additional data
A general PSA blood test for prostatitis, the cost of which is specified in the clinic, is recommended to be taken by men over the age of 50 every year. At the same time, to improve the test, specialists introduced additional indicators that allow us to consider the protein in accordance with various parameters.
When conducting the analysis, the density of PSA is taken into account. This allows calculations of antigen concentration in relation to the size of the gland itself, which are determined by transrectal ultrasound. Low protein density may indicate that the main reason for its growth lies in the development of prostatitis.
The PSA speed is also taken into account. This is a comparison of the antigen over certain periods of time. If the indicator increases rapidly, then the doctor can diagnose acute prostatitis or the initial stage of cancer.
Protein levels need to be monitored
Tracking the level of protein allows only a PSA blood test for prostatitis. The specialist should definitely know the features of this test. For example, recent studies have shown that it is prostatitis that can lead to an increase in the serum level of the antigen. Even if there are no signs of inflammation and a digital rectal examination does not reveal any abnormalities, the rate of increase in PSA levels has increased.
Such phenomena primarily indicate that the main organ of the reproductive system does not perform its functions well due to certain disorders. If there are sharp jumps in indicators, then experts recommend:
- If the protein level has increased significantly, then it is worth checking for signs of prostatitis, as well as a genitourinary infection.
- After treatment for prostatitis or a genitourinary infection, a second PSA test should be taken.
Even if prostatitis has not been diagnosed, it is still worth doing another antigen test. If the protein level remains elevated, the doctor may order a biopsy. This will either exclude or confirm the development of oncology.
Finally
How much does a PSA test cost for prostatitis? The price of such a test is from 600 rubles and more. At the same time, in some clinics, the patient must additionally pay for taking blood from a vein. The exact price can be checked in the laboratory.
It is worth noting that there is no direct evidence that prostatitis leads to prostate cancer. Not alwaysmalignant cells are formed. However, the histological signs of prostatitis are often detected by specialists in the study of cancerous tissues of the prostate. Therefore, a blood test for the amount of PSA should be carried out regularly.
