OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) in patients with chronic prostatitis.

METHODSForty-five patients with diagnosed inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (NIH category III A prostatitis) were inquired about the history symptoms and signs of prostatitis, and underwent digital rectal examination of the prostate as well as analysis of expressed prostatic secretions (EPS). Bacterial infection was also analyzed by pre- and post- massage test (PPMT), and PSA in the blood was detected. Thirty healthy males without inflammation in EPS were selected as controls.

RESULTSIn 45 cases of the patients with NIH category III A prostatitis, the PSA level in the blood was 2.41 +/- 0.64 microg/L, and that in the control group was 0.93 +/- 0.52 microg/L, with significant difference (P < 0.05). And among the 45 patients there were 6 (13.3%) whose PSA levels were over 4.0 microg/L, but there was only 1 in the 30 control males (3.3%). In III A prostatitis, the PSA level was elevated with the increase of inflammation in EPS, but with no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONSIn the diagnosis of prostate diseases, it should be taken into account that chronic non-bacterial prostatitis might elevate the level of PSA to a certain extent.