Human papillomavirus type 1 and 2. Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Prostate cancer is found in every eighth of the stronger sex who has crossed the 50-year milestone, and 10% of such cases are fatal. To detect the early stage of the disease allows the study of blood composition for tumor markers. PSA analysis for prostate cancer is one of the most reliable methods for diagnosing a tumor in order to eliminate it in a timely manner.

Prostate cancer and PSA

Malignant carcinoma (tumor) of the prostate occurs due to hormonal imbalances. The “culprit” of the imbalance is the main male hormone testosterone: its amount increases dramatically in prostate cancer. A characteristic indicator with which you can detect the disease is the level of PSA.

PSA/ - prostate specific antigen- This is a special enzyme that is part of the secret (juice) of the prostate gland. The main function of PSA is to thin the seminal fluid. Together with prostate juice, a small amount of antigen enters the bloodstream. In laboratory studies, it is used as a tissue-specific marker, i.e. an elevated PSA level does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer - this indicator can also signal other diseases of the genitourinary system.

When is a PSA test prescribed?

1. Detection of symptoms of pathological processes in the prostate gland (frequent and difficult urination, pain in the groin and genitals, drops of blood in urine or semen, etc.)

2. Primary diagnosis for suspected oncology

3. Monitoring the course of the disease in the framework of dynamic observation

4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic methods (prostatectomy, radiation, drug treatment, etc.)

5. Preventive examination of men of mature and elderly age

Normal PSA values

With age, the size of the prostate naturally increases, and accordingly, the concentration of prostate-specific antigen in the blood also increases.

Even a slight increase in PSA is a reason to undergo a urological examination.

Deviations from the norm

If the PSA value does not exceed 20.0 ng / ml, the patient is in the so-called gray zone: there may not be a malignant tumor, but the pathological processes in the body are already running. In this case, additional diagnostic measures are required to identify the cause of the ongoing changes for their timely relief.

● The most likely PSA values for prostate cancer start at 20.0 ng/mL.

● At an antigen level above 50.0 ng/ml, metastatic lesions are found in two out of three subjects.

● A value of more than 100.0 ng/ml indicates almost 100% spread of metastases in the body.

To clarify the presence of oncology, a prostate biopsy is performed, which gives a comprehensive clinical picture of the disease and allows you to develop an adequate treatment regimen.

Clarifying investigations for suspected prostate cancer

Although an elevated PSA may indicate the development of a malignant tumor, this marker is not exclusively cancer-specific. For more accurate diagnosis, additional indices are calculated.

Determining the level of free PSA

In the systemic circulation, prostate-specific antigen is present in two variants:

1. fPSA, or free form, i.e., not associated with proteins in the blood serum (makes up about 1/5 of the total amount of PSA);

2. cPSA, or a related form, is linked to glycoproteins (a-1-antichymotrypsin and a-2-macroglobulin).

The total value of both forms is the total PSA (its level is determined by analysis). If the marker is at the upper border of the "grey zone" (10-20 ng/ml), it is advisable to examine the level of the free fraction.

Regardless of the stage of prostate cancer, tumor cells produce an increased amount of the bound antigen, so a decrease in the level of fPSA is an alarming signal.

Also, as an additional criterion in the diagnosis, the ratio of the free fraction to the total PSA is determined: at a value of less than 0.15 ng / ml, there is reason to suspect oncology.

Rate of change in total PSA

PSA levels increase faster in prostate cancer. Normally, antigen growth should not exceed 0.75 ng/ml per year.

PSA density

The ratio of total PSA to the size of the prostate allows you to clarify the nature of the disease. A value less than 0.15 ng / ml per cubic meter of the prostate indicates a benign neoplasm. Elevated values indicate a cancerous tumor.

What can affect the accuracy of the analysis?

It is important to understand that high PSA levels and cancer do not always go hand in hand. A number of factors influence the outcome of a study.

*If you are taking medications (particularly 5-AP inhibitors used in the treatment of prostate adenoma), be sure to tell your doctor about it, as some of them directly affect the results of the analysis.

A significant increase in the level of PSA in the blood may be associated with pathologies such as:

● prostatitis in acute or chronic form;

● prostate adenoma;

● infectious processes;

● ischemia (anemia of the prostate gland, provoked by impaired blood circulation in the vessels);

● infarction (tissue necrosis caused by spasm).

Rules for preparing for a blood test for PSA

1. A few days before the procedure, you need to adjust your diet. Under a strict ban - fatty, salty and spicy dishes, alcoholic beverages. It is advisable to limit the consumption of meat. Doctors recommend including more vegetables (fresh, boiled or steamed), lean soups, broths, cereals in the diet.

2. At least 2 days before taking tests, you can not expose the body to physical exertion, nervousness, sex or masturbation.

3. Blood sampling is carried out on an empty stomach, so the last meal should be 8-12 hours before the procedure. It is allowed to drink ordinary water in any quantities.

4. An hour or two before the test, it is forbidden to smoke.

Tolerable PSA level for prostatitis

What is a PSA? Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a special protein that is produced in the male body exclusively by the tissues of the prostate gland, which performs the function of dissolving sperm at the time of ejaculation. The accumulation of PSA in prostatitis in the blood of a male directly reflects his age and prostate volume. That is, the larger the size of the prostate gland, the higher the degree of PSA. Therefore, it is very important for any man to periodically undergo an examination to determine its amount in the body.

Reasons for an increase in PSA

An increased PSA density usually indicates dangerous diseases of the prostate gland. Causes of the presented pathology:

malignant neoplasm, that is, cancer;
BPH;
the process of inflammation that develops in the prostate;
heart attack or ischemic disease of the gland.

Not always elevated PSA index is caused by diseases of the prostate. In certain situations, this symptom is not a disease. An increase in PSA is observed in such cases:

prostate massage course;
ejaculation;
carrying out the procedure of ultrasound diagnostics of male organs;
surgical intervention.

In such situations, PSA may rise. Therefore, before passing this study, such points should be taken into account. After all, the level of PSA in the blood will be atypical.

Indications for PSA testing

A specialist prescribes a blood test for the amount of prostate-specific antigen in such cases:

testing the effectiveness of ongoing cancer therapy;
to exclude a malignant tumor, an analysis is made for prostate cancer;
due to radical therapy of a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer;
in order to prevent men 40 years and above.

Analysis of the material for PSA gives a 100% error-free result. Therefore, it is possible to identify the inflammatory process of the prostate and more serious diseases quite quickly, in the early stages of development.

The normal concentration of PSA in the body of a man

How to decipher the normal state of the protein in the blood of a man? The following PSA indicators are considered normal, depending on age:

in young men from 20 to 25 years, the result should be no more than 2.5 ng / ml;
age 25-45 provides for a PSA of 3 ng/ml;
in men from 45 to 65 years old - no more than 3.5 ng / ml;
older age - the result should not go beyond the PSA 4 ng / ml.

That is, if the result of the study is not higher than 4 ng / ml, this is a normal result, in which a malignant neoplasm is excluded.

BPH

Adenoma is an age-related disease in which the prostate gland enlarges. As a result, it ceases to perform its functions qualitatively, which leads to the development of inflammation or infectious diseases of the genitourinary system. Prostate adenoma is not considered a fatal disease, but, nevertheless, significantly impairs the quality of normal life.
In order to detect the disease, you should be tested for the level of PSA in the blood. Before the study, doctors do not recommend eating food for 8 hours, as well as refraining from intimacy for 2 weeks.
PSA from 20 to 40 ng / ml indicates that the man develops this disease. When this figure is exceeded, the patient is likely to progress malignancy.
The PSA level in prostate adenoma needs to be monitored periodically. They should not increase by more than 0.75 ng/ml per year. A more dynamic increase indicates the development of prostate cancer.
What does this indicator mean? The PSA level in prostate adenoma helps the specialist prescribe the most effective and safe treatment in each individual case.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the prostate gland. This disease affects the level of PSA, even if there are no visible changes in the body of a man.
Starting effective treatment, the prostate-specific antigen index gradually returns to normal - after about 4 weeks. What does a high PSA level indicate in prostatitis after therapy? An increased rate can only indicate the development of prostate cancer. Therefore, after undergoing treatment for prostatitis, it is required to pass this PSA blood test again in a month. The chronic form of prostatitis involves checking the indicator every three months.

prostate cancer

A significant increase in the level of PSA indicates that the man has a malignant tumor of the prostate. If the mark reaches more than 8-10 ng / ml, an active inflammatory process occurs. The prostate needs more research.
There are cases when the values of PSA in the blood in prostate cancer are too high - 80-100 ng / ml. With this value, prostate cancer is accurately determined, despite the fact that a man may feel quite well. If an increase in prostate-specific antigen is observed more than 100 ng / ml, an effective potent therapy is urgently required.

Reducing the level of prostate-specific antigen at home

How to reduce this indicator with folk remedies? You can lower your PSA levels on your own, without the use of medications. To do this, you should eat foods that help relieve the inflammatory process in the prostate gland, namely:

Low-fat poultry meat helps to slow down the process with an enlarged prostate.
Oily fish. Preference should be given to species such as tuna, salmon, herring.
Dark berries and grapes. They prevent the oxidation of certain tissues, organs and glands, including the prostate.
The use of tomatoes. This vegetable performs a protective function of the tissues of organs and glands, thanks to its constituents. Watermelons and apricots have the same property.
Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. It prevents the accumulation of cancer cells in the prostate gland, thereby reducing the amount of protein in the blood. It is required to consume at least 1 glass of pomegranate juice daily.

It will also be useful for men to use a variety of dietary supplements. Their advantage is the complete absence of contraindications and side effects.

Medical reduction

What should a man do with an elevated PSA? If a man has a large amount of this protein as a result of an analysis of the level of PSA in the blood, additional studies are required to detect cancers and inflammatory processes.
In order to reduce the level of protein, you should take the following medications:

Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicines in this group thin the blood, while reducing the level of PSA. The maximum effect is observed in non-smoking men, even with prostate cancer. In addition to the function of blood thinning, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Cholesterol lowering drugs. Taking them regularly for a long period of time helps to eliminate an increase in PSA.
Medications to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

That is, it is not necessary to use drugs to lower PSA. It is enough just to normalize the work of the cardiovascular system.
You can also lower PSA, which was found along with prostate diseases, in the following ways:

cryotherapy;
thermotherapy;
microwave treatment;
laser coagulation;
urethral resection.

These methods of influencing the prostate gland contribute to the removal of a malignant tumor and the elimination of the inflammatory process through the urethra.

Prevention of an increase in PSA

In order to maintain a normal PSA level, that is, not to exceed 4 ng / ml, preventive measures are required. They should be aimed at eliminating a possible inflammatory process and prostate enlargement. To do this, follow these rules:

Timely conduct effective therapy in the event of infectious and viral diseases.
Elimination of intestinal disorders. Effectively influence the elimination of anal fissures, hemorrhoids and other diseases.
Intimacy should only be with a permanent partner. Promiscuous sex increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, which lead to inflammation of the prostate.
Follow the rules of personal hygiene, which will eliminate the risk of developing infectious diseases.
Give up bad habits. Excessive drinking and smoking negatively affects men's health.
Physical exercises. Weak physical activity leads to congestion of the small pelvis.
Proper nutrition. Eating healthy foods helps boost immunity.

You should also not forget about observing the daily routine, which will ensure a high-quality distribution of activity during the day and good rest.

Many men, and perhaps the majority, do not pay due attention to their health, which is very dangerous and fundamentally reckless. First of all, because diseases detected at an early stage of development are the easiest to cure. One of the diagnostic methods that helps to quickly establish the presence of serious male diseases is a PSA blood test for prostatitis.

What is a PSA?

PSA is prostate specific antigen. It is a protein produced by the secretion of the prostate gland. This is a tumor marker, the detection of which is necessary for monitoring the state of the prostate, determining prostate adenoma and prostate cancer.

PSA is a protein substance related to serine proteases, which is a component of the secretion of the prostate gland. This enzyme, responsible for the breakdown of large protein molecules, liquefies sperm and affects sperm motility.

The main amount of protein is in the seminal fluid, but a small part of the secret enters the bloodstream to ensure the normal function of the bladder, testicles, and regulation of male libido.

A blood test is the easiest and most effective way to diagnose. Special equipment is required that is able to detect microscopic doses of PSA in the blood, since its content is only 3-4 nanograms in one milliliter of blood.

Prostatitis and symptoms of the disease

With prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate gland occurs. This is a very unpleasant phenomenon that has the following symptoms:

pain during urination and defecation;
urinary retention;
drawing pains in the groin;
decreased potency and libido;
temperature rise;
general deterioration of well-being.

Prostatitis seriously reduces the quality of life for a man. Any problems in the genitourinary system cause severe discomfort, give rise to complexes and self-doubt. Chronic prostatitis requires hospital treatment at least twice a year.

But not every man goes to the doctor on his own at the first symptoms: problems with the prostate are too intimate, and the thought of a rectal examination inspires real horror.

However, untimely treatment of prostatitis inevitably leads to acute urinary retention, ascending urinary tract infections, as well as erectile dysfunction and even infertility.

If left untreated, prostatitis can turn into an adenoma, and this disease is even more serious. Prostate adenoma is a benign tumor that can be successfully treated with conservative methods.

If the adenoma is not detected in the early stages, with progression it can turn into prostate cancer.

A PSA test should be taken by every man at least once a year, as well as being examined by a urologist. This will allow early detection of any inflammatory diseases and start their treatment in time.

Why is this a very important analysis?

Currently, prostatitis is the most common male disease. If earlier only adult and elderly men were ill with it, today the disease is rapidly getting younger. now inflammation of the prostate is detected even in young men at the age of 18.

Urologists have their own joke, with which they determine the number of cases:

at 20 years old - 20%;
at 30 years old - 30%;
in 40 years 40% and so on.

But there is a lot of truth in this joke. Indeed, a huge number of men experience similar problems.

Prostate cancer is another terrible disease. He holds the second record for the number of deaths among men from malignant tumors.

Diagnosis of cancer at an early stage with the help of PSA analysis allows more effective treatment of oncology.

Of course, other diagnostic methods are important in addition to PSA analysis: ultrasound of the prostate gland, rectal examination. Only a multifaceted inspection allows you to determine exactly what the problem is with high accuracy.

When conducting a diagnosis using a blood test, the doctor can identify the following indicators:

free antigen. This PSA accounts for about 20% of the total amount of PSA markers in a man's blood;
PSA associated with other proteins. Its content is very small, and it can only be determined in the laboratory with a thorough study of the biomaterial. This indicator is also important in the diagnosis;
PSA general. The total level of PSA protein in the blood is determined.

These indicators allow you to obtain data on the composition of the blood, an increase or decrease in the content of PSA. A high level indicates a possible inflammation or neoplasm in the prostate gland.

Before taking the tests, you should consult with your doctor to choose a more favorable period. If blood sampling is incorrect, the data may be distorted, for example, after cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, bladder catheterization.

PSA level: norm and deviations

For men at each age, there are their own indicators of the norm, in case of deviation from which an additional examination is required to confirm or refute the disease:

up to 40 years, the content of PSA in the blood should not exceed 2.5 ng / ml;
from 40 to 50 years, the normal level is from 2.5 to 3.5 ng / ml;
from 50 to 60 years old, the indicator should be in the range from 3.5 to 4.5 ng / ml;
from 60 to 70 years in men, PSA should be in the range from 4.5 to 6.5 ng / ml;
in men over 70 years old, the rate of the indicator is from 6.5 ng / ml.

How to perceive the results of the analysis

If the level of PSA in the blood is elevated, you should not immediately panic.

Firstly, there is a possibility of distorting the results, an additional examination is necessary.

Secondly, PSA rises in the presence of any inflammatory or infectious diseases.

It is not certain that the patient will be diagnosed with cancer. When analyzing the results, total PSA and associated protein are calculated. Their ratio is very important. It can be used to determine how likely a patient is to develop prostate cancer.

The PSA level in prostatitis is different from that in adenoma or malignant tumor.

The rate of spread of the protein is also determined. This indicator is analyzed for several years, which is especially important in the treatment of adenoma or cancer.

For each age and PSA norm, there is the same rate of increase in protein content throughout the year. If this indicator is exceeded, the patient may develop a tumor, and the available treatment is not effective enough.

There is another equally important indicator: the density of PSA in the prostate. The ratio of the amount of total PSA to the entire volume of the prostate is determined. In a healthy person, it does not exceed 0.15 ng / ml (cubic centimeter).

As already noted, it is necessary to carefully choose the time for blood sampling so that the results are not distorted.

PSA levels can rise not only with inflammation, adenoma or prostate cancer.

The score is affected by:

inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, stones and sand in the urinary tract);
recent sex;
active physical activity (cycling, running, skiing, long walking);
any physical impact on the prostate: massage, research, ultrasound, TRUS, biopsy, rectal palpation, colonoscopy and other manipulations. The more intense the impact, the longer the effect of it lasts. The prostate takes the longest to recover after a biopsy.

Preparation for testing

First, you need to visit a urologist and get a referral for blood donation. The doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis, perform an examination, and give recommendations for preparation. If a rectal examination or TRUS was performed, it takes time for the prostate to return to normal so as not to distort the results.

Before testing for a specific antigen, experts recommend:

stop eating 8 hours before;
for 8 hours to abandon the use of: alcoholic beverages, juices, tea, coffee;
5 days before the test, refuse sexual intercourse;
after any impact on the gland, the analysis should be taken no earlier than 3 weeks later;
after undergoing a biopsy of the prostate, the study should be carried out at least a month later.

The analysis is carried out in a specialized laboratory, which has all the necessary equipment. Venous blood is taken, at least two milliliters. The study of the biomaterial is carried out within two days, after which the patient is informed about the readiness of the analysis. After the results are announced, the man again needs to visit the urologist to decipher the results and agree on the need for further treatment.

Summing up, we can say that a blood test for PSA is necessary in order to timely diagnose the development of various diseases of the prostate gland. As a rule, the indicator of this substance in the blood increases with age. For men in general, up to 40 years of age, 0-4 ng / ml is considered the norm. Based on this study alone, it is impossible to determine the development of oncology, however, based on its results, one can establish the likelihood. The highest probability of developing prostate disease is with a PSA value of more than 10.

It is also necessary to regularly undergo this study after the treatment of the disease, since its conduction will help determine the possibility of relapse.

Regular visits to the doctor and monitoring the level of health will help to avoid the development of diseases and save lives.

Useful video

One of the most common diseases of the genital area in the sex is prostatitis, which has very unpleasant symptoms and consequences. To diagnose this pathology and some others, a blood test for PSA, a prostate-specific antigen, is used.

Prostatitis and its symptoms

Inflammatory damage to the prostate tissue is called prostatitis in medical terms. The clinical symptoms of this disease are:

dysuric disorders in the form of urinary retention;
pain during urination;
in the perineum;
oppression;
decrease .
With a pronounced syndrome, there may be an increase, a general one.

If these symptoms are present, your doctor may order a PSA test for prostatitis.

Diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis should be handled by a qualified urologist.
Independent attempts to decipher the results and self-treatment often lead to worsening of the disease.
In addition, there is a high risk of not noticing a more dangerous disease, such as the prostate!

What is a PSA blood test

The purpose of the prostate gland is to synthesize prostatic secretion, which is part of the semen.

Most of this secretion is secreted into the seminal vesicles and then mixed with the spermatozoa.
A small part of the prostatic juice enters the systemic circulation (absorbed into the blood).
One of the components that enters the blood is a special glycoprotein - serine.
In the blood, this substance has properties, which is why it was called PSA - prostate-specific antigen.
By examining the concentration of PSA in the blood, one can draw a conclusion about the condition of the prostate tissue.
A high concentration of the antigen indicates damage to the prostate, which is noted during its mechanical irritation, with and.

Video, signs of cancer that men ignore

Indications for PSA testing

The urologist usually directs for analysis. The grounds for this study are:

prostate screening (highly recommended for men over 50);
any complaints indicating damage to the prostate (frequent urination, pain in the urethra, blood in the urine, and others);
monitoring of prostate treatment;
determination of recurrence of prostate tumors;
early diagnosis of the prostate.

What does a PSA test reveal?

General with prostatitis, it detects the concentration in the blood of a protein substance from the class of serine proteases.

An increased amount of this compound enters the bloodstream when the prostate is damaged, which can occur when it is inflamed, mechanically damaged, or the growth of a prostate tumor.
The increase in PSA in prostatitis is mainly due to the excessive permeability of the capillary walls due to the inflammatory process.
Treatment control: during therapy with various methods of the prostate gland and prostatitis, the dynamics of the indicator change is important - a decrease in its value indicates good treatment, and an increase indicates insufficient efficiency.

Video, prostate cancer what you need to know

The normal concentration of PSA in the body

The maximum normal concentration of PSA in a healthy man is considered to be 4 ng / ml.
The allowable interval from 0 to 4 ng / ml is explained by the fact that the content of this substance in the blood to some extent depends on the size of the prostate - the larger it is, the higher the concentration.
A normal prostate weighs from 15 to 20 grams, so the amount of PSA synthesized by it may vary slightly.
Exceeding the threshold often indicates a pathological process.

Reasons for an increase in PSA

Among the reasons leading to an increase in PSA, there are pathological and physiological. In a healthy man, this indicator can be increased in the following situations:

due to intense sports, especially when cycling;
within 1-2 days after intercourse;
in connection with prostate massage or TRUS.

Among the pathological causes of an increase in prostate-specific antigen, experts note:

prostatitis;
prostate adenoma - a kind of benign;
prostate;
prostate disorder (ischemia) or hemorrhage.

Due to the insufficiently high specificity of this analysis, it is necessarily supplemented by other diagnostic methods: ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.
Important! A normal reading does not guarantee the absence of prostate disease.
Research methods in different laboratories may differ, therefore, to evaluate the indicator in dynamics, it is recommended to donate blood for analysis always in the same laboratory.

Home test for prostate cancer

Cancer tests can be done at home. Test kits are freely available in pharmacies, there are more than three types. Everything you need to conduct the test is in the kit, and there is a description. Types of cancer tests you can do at home:

Blood tests. You can take it yourself by buying a set in a pharmacy.
Urine analyses.
Stool and occult blood tests.

For example, tests for three common cancers:

test for frequent prostate cancer.
Test for .
Test for bladder cancer.

If there is 1 line on the indicator, it means that there is no cancer.
If there are 2 bars on the indicator, it means that there is cancer.
If something is wrong, then you need to urgently look for a good doctor.
Cancer tests are done at least once a year.

Prevention of an increase in PSA

It is impossible to completely prevent an increase in PSA - you can only reduce the frequency of exposure to risk factors, the presence of which increases the risk of prostate diseases, such as prostatitis and. Men are recommended:

follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle;
minimize exposure to carcinogens, including quitting smoking;
exclude unprotected sex - this is one of the factors of the prostate and the development of prostatitis;
regularly undergo medical examinations with a urologist;
avoid hypothermia and injury to the perineum.

Regular determination of the concentration of the described indicator in the blood will not allow prostate diseases, but it helps to detect them at a very early stage.
The earlier the disease is detected, the more effective the treatment will be, the most relevant is the statement of the prostate.

Ways to Lower PSA

The only way to lower the plasma PSA concentration is through the treatment that caused it to rise.
With prostatitis, complex therapy is prescribed, the task of which is to suppress and eliminate (cleanse the prostate) from pathogens.
The prostate is treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
In chronic diseases, the value of the described indicator can be increased for a long time.
A decrease in PSA indicates a positive effect of the treatment.

Video, prostate adenoma

Features of preparation for PSA analysis

To reduce the likelihood of erroneous results and increase the information content of the study as a whole, the subject should follow the preparation recommendations:

24 hours before blood sampling, “heavy” foods (pickles, smoked meats, fatty foods) should be excluded from the diet.
Immediately before blood sampling, the patient should refrain from physical overexertion.
Do not smoke 0.5-1 hour before the procedure.
You should know that the analysis can be taken no earlier than 7 days after any procedure during which mechanical stimulation of the prostate was carried out - after massage, TRUS or biopsy.
The test result is usually ready within a few hours.
The attending physician should deal with the decoding of the analysis, correlating its indicators with the clinical picture of the disease.

The urgency of the problem of the growth of urological morbidity among men of active age is gaining momentum in recent years, despite all the achievements of modern medicine. The need for early diagnosis and prevention of these diseases is only increasing. Prostate PSA analysis is one of the effective, affordable, informative methods that can be used to detect signs of adenoma or prostate cancer. Oncology in the male genital area is one of the most pressing problems in diagnostic medicine.

This diagnosis is reputed to be a kind of nightmare that awaits almost all men after forty years. Is this really so and what can be done to avoid prostatitis, cancer and prostate adenoma?

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the male, secretory active gland, which is located, as it were, covering the urethra from the outside, when it leaves the bladder. She participates in the formation of sperm, releasing prostatic juice into the seminal fluid. Inflammation or degeneration of prostate tissue leads to an increase in its size. The consequence of this process is the compression of the lumen of the urethra, impaired urination, erectile dysfunction.

You can diagnose the inflammatory process of prostate tissues by contacting a urologist for help. To do this, the doctor will conduct all the necessary examinations. Typically, a research plan consists of the following steps:

questioning and examination of the patient;
appointment of laboratory tests;
obtaining results and evaluating data;
prescription of treatment.

Depending on which disease was detected during the examination (acute or chronic), the tactics of therapy are determined.

Laboratory methods used for the diagnostic stage of inflammatory diseases of the prostate:

The list of laboratory data is supplemented by the results of instrumental methods, such as ultrasound, tomography.

General PSA blood test

A significant scientific and diagnostic breakthrough in the late 1980s was the discovery of a prostate-specific antigen found in the bloodstream. Determination of this indicator has made it possible to develop a lot of methods that help in the early diagnosis of cancer, adenoma and other pathologies of men's health.

A general PSA blood test for prostatitis is already the usual norm of the diagnostic stage. To determine it, a biochemical laboratory is needed, which is available in almost all medical institutions.

Definition of PSA (what is it)

PSA is a substance of a protein nature, a glycoprotein that is contained in the blood of men and the ratio of its fractions determines the presence or absence of a cancerous, precancerous or pathological condition of the prostate of a different nature.

Prostate tissue is the site of production of this substance, the functional purpose of which is not yet fully understood. But the participation of PSA in the dilution of seminal fluid has already been clarified. The substance is present in the body of a healthy man in the form of a prostate-specific antigen in a small amount. Based on observations, a long study after the discovery of this unique element, content standards were developed, increased and decreased boundaries were clarified, the relationship of the indicator with the presence of tumor, inflammatory and other pathological changes in the prostate tissue.

The total amount of PSA is made up of a substance that is in a free state and a bound fraction. It is the ratio of these two components to each other that is called the index, which can characterize the current pathological process.

The indicator reaction is based on the mechanism of antigen binding to a specific antibody. It is clear that we cannot see this process directly. Therefore, in order to assess how exactly the substances will be combined with each other, an indicator is added to the complex, which gives a glow. The intensity of the glow reflects the binding activity. Thus, it is possible to fix a normal PSA level or it has deviations from the norm, to make a decoding of the results.

Influence of the inflammatory process on the PSA index

Modern medical reference manuals contain explanations on the levels of certain substances or blood parameters. PSA is normalized in a man in the range from 0 to 4 ng per 1 ml of blood. Getting such numbers means only one thing - the body is healthy. Exceeding the specified amount occurs with a pronounced inflammatory process, and not only in the prostate gland. These can be respiratory viral infections, inflammation of other organs, taking certain groups of drugs that adversely affect the PSA index.

If there are no more signs of a pathological process inside the prostate, then the right decision would be to remove all suspicions by re-analysis with an interval of up to two weeks. This is at the stage of initial diagnosis. If it is necessary to check the treatment of prostatitis or adenoma, tumors of the gland, then during the course of therapy and after its completion, a control analysis is also carried out. The next time you need to donate blood no earlier than two weeks later.

Indications for the study

It is advisable to conduct a blood test for prostatitis for PSA indicators in any case. But there are conditions or pathologies when it is necessary to donate blood to determine the content of this substance in order to accurately determine the diagnosis in unclear situations in order to predict further treatment or rehabilitation tactics. The analysis in this case is shown to the following groups of people:

men over the age of forty;
convalescents after radical antitumor treatment;
patients suspected of having a prostate tumor;
men after a course of treatment of adenoma, prostatitis to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.

Despite the undoubted advantages of the method, it is necessary to take into account many subtleties when deciphering its results, related factors and the correct preparation for donating blood for PSA.

Preparation for the delivery of the analysis

Blood is the tissue of the body, the state of which it reflects. That is why you can take it for analysis, to establish the degree of disorder of other functions. The study is carried out "in vitro", that is, outside the human body, "in glass", if literally. Therefore, preparation is essential to obtaining objective data.

The following requirements must be carefully considered:

The last meal, drinks, except water, are allowed no later than 8-9 hours before the study.
Sex life should be absent for a week.
An examination by a urologist should be either after the analysis, or 10-14 days before it.
Any mechanical impact on the urethra or prostate automatically postpones the analysis for at least two weeks.
A few days before the planned study, stop drinking alcohol, smoking as little as possible.

All of the above measures will help to obtain an accurate, reference, adequate result, which will help in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the patient.

Indicators and their interpretation

Total PSA consists of a fraction of free and bound substances. It is the level of free antigen that indicates the presumptive nature of the pathology. The normal value is the amount from 0 to 4 ng in 1 ml of blood. This is a good result, reporting a completely healthy body.

The option, in which the obtained values are in the range from 4 to 10 ng in 1 ml, is no longer so favorable. This is an indicator of the presence of inflammatory changes in the tissues of the gland itself, adenomatous growths, a possible incipient malignant process.

Exceeding the value of 10 ng / ml makes you pay close attention to the oncological nature of problems with the prostate gland. This result must be objectified by determining free PSA separately: the larger its proportion, the greater the chance that the tumor is benign.

Contraindications for the study

The patient may choose not to have a PSA blood test. There are no other contraindications for this test. This is the usual standard for a complete examination for suspected prostatitis, adenoma, or prostate cancer. You just need to properly prepare for an objective result.

False result

You can get a false positive result in some cases, you need to know about them in order to avoid such an outcome:

sexual contact on the eve of blood donation;
examination by a urologist shortly before the analysis;
biopsy study of prostate tissue;
catheterization of the bladder with difficulty urinating;
eating, alcohol, sweet drinks later than 8-9 hours.

The patient needs to be explained all these subtleties that can negatively affect the correctness of the result.

This goal must be set, but not in order to reduce the level of the indicator, but to get a positive trend in treatment. This is what a decrease in PSA will indicate.

Medications

The effect of reducing prostate-specific antigen is achieved when taking the following drugs:

5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which are used in the treatment of adenoma. Among them are such as "Dutasteride", "Finasteride".
Thiazide diuretics are not etiological drugs for the treatment of prostate diseases, but with long-term use they reduce blood PSA.
Cholesterol-lowering statins lower PSA levels when taken long-term.

Medicines should not be self-administered.

Folk remedies

The use of traditional medicine helps in the treatment of prostate diseases, as evidenced by the decrease in PSA when using such drugs:

Beekeeping products: honey, recipes based on it, propolis, pollen.
Herbs that reduce inflammatory reactions: chamomile, mint, sage, St. John's wort, oregano, celandine, yarrow, lungwort, calendula.
Flax seeds, nuts. They are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which strengthen blood vessels, lower cholesterol, normalize blood flow and filtration in the renal tubules.
Plants with poisonous properties: fly agaric, hemlock, chaga, aconite. They have a detrimental effect on cancer cells and help to remove them from the body.

The cost of folk remedies is quite low, but in combination with adequate drug therapy, non-traditional recipes give a good effect. It is not uncommon to have surgery to treat the prostate, after which there is also a return of PSA to normal levels.

Prevention of rising PSA

All men need to monitor their health, and not only after forty years. To do this, you should eat rationally, you need to exclude alcohol, smoking, not to mention drugs.

An orderly, regular sex life, preferably with regular partners, will protect against the ingress of pathogens into the prostate tissue. You should also seek qualified help in time if you suspect a sexually transmitted disease. The doctor will not only prescribe the necessary treatment, but also conduct an ultrasound and other important examinations of the pelvic organs. The tips are quite simple, but their price is very high - men's health.

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