Change of PSA Density after Finasteride Therapy in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Yoon, Sung Wook; Kim, Jae Il; Park, Seok San

Abstract

PURPOSE
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density has been proposed to distinguish between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. It is of importance that patients who take finasteride for their BPH should be taken deep interest in the potential for malignancy. The PSA density after finasteride therapy for 12 months in patients with BPH was investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixty-two patients (mean age 64 years) with BPH were enrolled in this study. The PSA densities were calculated before and after 12 months of finasteride therapy. The prostate volumes were measured by transrectal ultrasonography and the PSA was measured by an enzyme immunoassay.
RESULTS
After 12 months of the finasteride therapy, the PSA decreased by 45.5%, the prostate volumes by 15.4% and the PSA densities by 30.5% (p >0.01). The PSA density after the finasteride therapy ranged from 0.01 to 0.14 ng/ml/cm3. In 62 patients, the cumulative percent of the PSA densities was 96.8% at 0.11 ng/ml/cm3 or less. In 31 patients over the PSA of 4.0 ng/ml, the cumulative percent of PSA densities also showed the same result.
CONCLUSIONS
In most BPH patients treated with finasteride for 12 months, the PSA densities ranged 0.11 ng/ml/cm3 or less.