Effects of digital rectal examination and transurethral resection of the prostate on serum prostate Specific antigen and acid phosphatase levels

Choi, Un Bong; Song, Jea Mann

Abstract

To identify the effect of digital rectal examination (DRE) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on the serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), serum acid phosphatase and prostatic acid phosphatase (SAP/PAP) concentration a clinical trial involving 73 patients was conducted. Of the patients 65 (89 %) had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 8(11 %) had prostate cancer (stage A1, A2). We detected no clinically significant difference between serum PSA and prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) levels obtained immediately before, at 5 to 30 minutes after rectal examination and post-TURP in 73 men. Patients were divided into four groups based on their initial serum PSA levels. The three groups with the initial PSA values (0.1 through 4 ng/ml and greater than 10 ng/ml) were found to have statistically insignificant changes in the serum PSA levels after DRE and post-TURP. The group with initial PSA levels of 4.1 through 10 ng/ml had statistically increases in serum PSA values after TURP, but the alterations in serum PSA levels in the group with the inter- mediated PSA value was not clinically important. We conclude that digital rectal examination (DRE) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) have no clinically important effects on serum PSA in BPH and occult prostatic cancer (stage A1, A2) patients.