Age-specific Reference Range of Prostate-specific Antigen in Healthy Men Received Multipathic Health Checkup Center

Kim, Gyung Jong; Park, Seok San

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study is to determine age-specific reference range of serum concentration of prostate-specific antigen(PSA) in each decades of age for whom PSA levels were checked in our Multipathic Health Checkup Center.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between February 1996 and August 1998, the serum PSA of 10,691 men aged 20 to 79 years were checked from Multipathic Health Checkup Center. All cases of lower urinary tract infection(>4WBC/HPF in urinalysis) were excluded from the analysis. PSA was measured by Enzyme Immuno-Assay(AxSYM kit, Abbott Co.) techniques. Patients were grouped according to age by decade: group 20`s(n=941), group 30`s(n=3,963), group 40`s(n=3,607), group 50`s(n=1,735), group 60`s(n=392) and group 70`s(n=53).
RESULTS
Based on linear regression analysis, serum PSA concentration was correlated with patient age significantly(r=0.091, p<0.005). The mean PSA values(ng/ml) of each age groups were 20`s: 0.927+/-.660, 30`s: 0.931+/-.664, 40`s: 0.951+/-.715, 50`s: 1.035+/-.883, 60`s: 1.369+/-.607 and 70`s: 2.244+/-.317. The upper limits of PSA(mean+2SD) according to age were 20`s: 2.25ng/ml, 30`s: 2.26ng/ml, 40`s: 2.38ng/ml, 50`s: 2.80ng/ml, 60`s: 4.58ng/ml and 70`s: 8.88ng/ml.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirmed earlier observations that serum PSA were age-dependent and age-specific, and it were lower for Korean men than for white men. The age-specific reference ranges for Korean men should be established, and then the PSA assay could become more efficient as a screening test for prostatic cancer.