Association of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Velocity with Age and Initial PSA in Healthy Korean Men

Cho, Young Sam; Joo, Kwan Joong

Abstract

PURPOSE
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a test with relatively low specificity used for determination of risk for prostate cancer. PSA velocity (PSAV) has been used as a complimentary test. We investigated the association of PSAV with age and an initial PSA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We enrolled 989 healthy men with initial PSA of 4.0ng/ml or lower. The PSA levels were measured at intervals of at least 12 months. We analyzed the influence of age and initial PSA on the PSAV.
RESULTS
PSAV was directly correlated with age and the initial PSA. The initial PSA was not correlated with the PSAV when adjusted by age (r=0.009, p=0.773); age was correlated with PSAV when adjusted by initial PSA level (r=0.276, p<0.001). The mean PSAV in cases with initial PSA of 2.1-4.0 ng/ml was significantly greater compared to the cases with an initial PSA of 0-2.0 ng/ml (p<0.01). The ratio of the men with a PSAV greater than 0.75 ng/ml/year was significantly higher in cases with an initial PSA of 2.1-4.0 ng/ml (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
PSAV is associated with age and an initial PSA level in healthy Korean men. Men with initial PSA of 2.1-4.0 ng/ml had an abnormal PSAV in high proportion, and therefore annual follow up PSA would be useful for the early detection of prostate cancer in these cases.