06.04.2017

Total PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a protein that is determined in human blood, produced by prostate cells.

Only a small amount of the substance can seep into the blood. Conducting this type of analysis is necessary in order to determine the development of the oncological process in the prostate gland. An increase in this type of protein indicates the initial stage of the disease.

Differences free from PSA

If we talk about free analysis and general PSA, then they have differences that a person needs to know about immediately before they are taken. The difference lies in the fact that PSA is generally 90%, while free does not exceed 10%. Common tumor markers are located in close proximity to proteins that are secreted by the prostate gland. If we talk about the free, then they are not related to them in any way.

However, there is some definite connection between them, in particular psa and free links that they are taken into account when it is required to conduct an examination to determine the disease of the gland. With their help, the doctor may suspect that the oncological processes that occur in the prostate gland begin in the patient's body. An increase in protein in the blood will indicate the presence of a cell mutation.

Before you donate a PSA oncomarker, you must adhere to the rules, only in this case you can achieve effective readings.

If you have to take an analysis, then before it you can not:

  • the day before delivery, it is not recommended to eat fatty foods;
  • before the procedure, prostate massages are prohibited;
  • half an hour before the PSA test, it is forbidden to smoke, engage in physical activity (you can’t even walk for a long time or climb stairs).

It is recommended to completely exclude the intake of alcoholic beverages, you should not be nervous. If a person leads a healthy lifestyle, then the results obtained as a result of passing the analysis can be accurate. In no case should a simple analysis be neglected, with its help it is possible to identify a possible oncology of the prostate, starting immediate treatment.

Why can the PSA rate go astray?

In some cases, it may happen that the prostate analysis showed elevated tumor markers, and the person does not have cancer. There are a number of factors that can affect the validity of the data. To date, there are certain diagnostic measures and drugs that can cause a violation of the norm of the indicator of prostate tumor markers.

An incorrect, specific result can be shown by vegetables, which contain an increased amount of nitrates (watermelons, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers), we will take chemical drugs (methotrexate or cyclophosphamide). Regular ascorbic acid is capable of increasing the number of antigens in a blood test, so you need to be careful. In the presence of such factors, the patient may be prescribed a biopsy of the prostate in order to exclude or confirm such a terrible diagnosis as cancer.

Factors such as palpation of the prostate with a finger, recent sexual contact, hemolysis of a blood sample can affect the accuracy of the test. In some cases, it may also happen that during the test, the PSA values ​​are normal, but the patient still finds prostate cancer.

For this reason, it is recommended to confirm the diagnosis with a number of other tests so as not to make a false diagnosis. In the event that the results of PSA have raised doubts with the doctor, it is recommended to conduct a number of additional studies.

They may include:

  • MRI;
  • biopsy;
  • transrectal examination;
  • ultrasound examination;

To obtain the most accurate analysis, it is recommended to decipher free and simple PSA.

Differential Diagnosis

The highest value of oncomarker readings is for the stronger sex, whose age is more than 35 years. As a result of the high probability of developing oncological processes, it is recommended to be as careful as possible about your health.

It is recommended to undergo an examination every year for the purpose of prevention, the results of which will make it possible to identify oncology, if it appears. The presence of changes in the analysis data can indicate the development of cancerous processes in the body.

If the disease was detected at an early stage, then the doctor will have many methods of conservative treatment available. In some cases, the course of diagnosis does not take more than four to five days. After that, having carried out all the necessary manipulations, it is possible to answer with confidence what character (malignant or benign) the education has. Regardless of the type of diagnosed tumor, the patient is recommended to be sent for examination to doctors with related specialties.

In some cases, we can talk about the presence of pathologies of a complex nature, with a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer. In the event that the patient has people with oncology of any type in the family, it is recommended to go to the doctor twice as often. The patient is recommended to undergo a biochemical blood test every six months, thanks to which it is possible to determine the level of PSA tumor markers.

To obtain accurate information, it is recommended to observe the dynamic change in the amount of PSA. If these indicators increase upwards, then this indicates the presence of an active phase in the development of pathology. Of course, it is difficult to answer immediately whether it is benign or malignant. In the event that changes in indicators go down, then the patient is sent to a therapist. This action is necessary for a detailed examination.

It is recommended to calm down if the PSA level remains at a stable level. To maintain health at the proper level, the oncologist may advise you to give up all bad habits, reduce the level of exposure to negative risk factors.

It is categorically not recommended to reduce the intensity of mandatory examinations for the purpose of prevention. There are no diagnostic tools that could exclude the possibility of developing oncological processes in the body.

The only option in this situation is a regular examination by a doctor, so it should not be neglected. Take care of your health now, do not allow the development of oncology.

How to prevent oncology?

To ensure that the protein secreted by the prostate gland is normal, and you do not worry about the possible development of oncology, men aged 46-50 years are recommended to undergo prostate diagnostics once a year. Only then will you be able to identify the disease when it is at an early stage.

  • visit doctors regularly;
  • observe the correct sex life (if you have a new partner, be sure to protect yourself);
  • treat infectious diseases;
  • monitor the hygiene of the genitals, in particular the anus and scrotum;
  • eat right.

Conclusion

Any disease, especially oncology, is easier to treat at an early stage. Only in this case, you can count on a complete cure. It is recommended to visit a doctor at least once a year, undergo an examination and take tests for the purpose of prevention. Do not neglect health, because you have only one.

Nowadays, there are a huge number of diseases that are difficult to identify, especially at the time of development. Oncology refers to one of the types of such diseases. The problem of researching cancerous tumors exists in almost every country in the world, and, unfortunately, the number of cancer patients is only increasing every year. If you detect a problem at an early stage, then. If you suspect prostate cancer, you should donate blood for the PSA tumor marker. In the case of early detection of the disease, it will be possible to avoid metastasis, as well as to do without long-term relapses.

What can affect the development of a tumor in men

  • cancer of the liver;
  • lungs;
  • kidneys;
  • Bladder;
  • lymph nodes;
  • for skin cancer;
  • brain tumor;
  • cancer cells in the throat;
  • tumor marker PSA for men.

If you are going to do a blood test, then it is advisable to follow some tips.

  1. It is necessary to carry out blood sampling for PSA oncomarker only on an empty stomach. At least 12 hours after the previous meal.
  2. If it is necessary to examine the PSA oncomarker of the prostate, a week before the delivery, you should refrain from sexual intercourse, and also not have any effect on the prostate gland and not conduct its examination.
  3. You should definitely not smoke on the day of blood sampling. Nicotine to have a negative impact on the outcome of studies.
  4. Be sure to monitor your diet before conducting a blood test for antigens. You should not eat spicy, fatty, salty fried foods for three days. It is advisable to follow a diet in general.
  5. If possible, a few days before the PSA oncomarker test, do not take any drugs.
  6. It is best to take blood before 11 am. Since all the norms that are indicated describe the indicators obtained from 7.00 to 11.00.
  7. For several days, do not burden yourself with any physical exercises.
  8. Before you go to donate blood to the laboratory for tumor markers, it is advisable to rest for 20-25 minutes in order to calm the nervous system.
  9. If, seven days before the delivery of the material for the study, ultrasound and other examinations were performed, be sure to tell your doctor about this.
  10. It is not recommended to drink alcohol three days before the test.

Remember these tips and always stick to them in order to get more accurate research results. Also, for the accuracy of research on the PSA oncomarker, it is advisable to always take tests exclusively at one medical office.

Why do you need a PSA blood test?

What does the PSA tumor marker show? This is a special type of study (prostate specific psa). A tumor marker that can detect proteins in the blood that are produced by the prostate gland. It is thanks to this method of examination that cancer can be detected at an early stage. The doctor will be able to prescribe treatment in time.

The PSA tumor marker is usually prescribed if there is even the slightest suspicion of a tumor. Basically, it is necessary to pass the analysis:

  • with suspected prostate cancer;
  • if inflammation of the prostate occurs;
  • in case of appearance of benign formations;
  • with suspicion of ischemia;
  • to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

And also for prevention, it is recommended to take an analysis for the general PSA oncomarker every year. The analysis itself is performed in this way: blood is drawn from a vein into a container, the puncture site is sterilized. If a hematoma appears at the site of blood sampling, then a warm compress should be applied.

On average, the norm is from 0.2 - 4 ng / ml. The norm of indicators depends mainly only on the age of the patient:

Total PSA levels by age
Age, years Average total PSA, ng/ml The average limit of total PSA, ng / ml Recommended total PSA limit, ng/ml
40 – 49 0,7 0,5 – 1,1 0 – 2,5
50 – 59 1,0 0,6 – 1,4 0 – 3,5
60 – 69 1,4 0,9 – 3,0 0 – 4,5
70 – 79 2,0 0,9 – 3,2 0 – 6,5

Attention! There are cases when the indicators deviate from a certain norm, which indicates only a malfunction of some organ or indicates the presence of a benign tumor. Also, with various viral diseases, you can get a false result. Therefore, before drawing any conclusions, consult a doctor.

After receiving the result of the analysis, the doctor must prescribe a course of treatment. The exact result is not determined by analysis only in the case of:

  • if there is a suspicion of prostate cancer;
  • if there is a possibility of hyperplasia. In this case, an additional examination is required;
  • if suddenly tumor markers showed more than 40, then we will talk about the presence of metastases. Another examination will help you learn about the treatment of prostate adenoma and what measures and drugs should be taken to alleviate the condition.

Differences between total and free PSA

The general analysis differs from the free one only in that it is 90%, but the free one is the remaining 10%. The general marker is closely related to proteins, free PSA has nothing to do with them at all. They are connected only by the PSA marker, both are taken into account during the examination.

In order for the results of the analyzes to always please, be sure to undergo an annual examination. Take this as your rule. Be sure to eat right, observe the hygiene of the genitals, do not neglect the treatment of various infectious diseases. Do not forget also about protection during sexual intercourse (in case of a change of partner), do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Doctors are always on guard of our health.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is produced by cells in the prostate.

If its indicator exceeds the established norms, then this is a consequence of pathological processes in the gland, so the study of PSA helps to diagnose diseases of the organ.

The PSA test is the most informative among other tests that detect prostate diseases. It can be used to determine inflammatory processes in the prostate and benign tissue growth, but the main goal of the PSA study is to identify cancer cells.

When is a PSA blood test ordered?

  • with symptoms characteristic of a malignant tumor in the prostate;
  • after the age of fifty, an annual analysis is carried out to determine the PSA norm;
  • annual examination after forty years in the presence of relatives with cancer;
  • with an enlarged prostate;
  • to determine the stage of a cancerous tumor;
  • to monitor the progress of treatment.

Until recently, it was believed that the PSA rate was within the range of up to 4.0 ng / ml, but medical practice has shown that cancer can develop at lower rates. Therefore, a PSA exceeding 2.5 ng / ml can serve as a sign of a malignant formation, but only if there are other indirect factors.

Total PSA

The total prostate-specific antigen is equal to the sum of free and bound PSA.

Identification of the total PSA index allows you to:

  • to diagnose the beginning of the development of pathology;
  • examine the prostate for prevention;
  • identifying the PSA norm, evaluate the results of prostate treatment;
  • if a man has undergone surgery, then a general PSA analysis helps to identify relapses.

Free and bound PSA:

  • free form - PSA is not bound to proteins;
  • the associated form - PSA is associated with alpha 1-antichymotrypsin.

Free PSA in the body of a man is only 10%. The analysis for free antigen allows you to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors.

The PSA test is a tumor marker that detects cancerous changes in the prostate, but a high level of the antigen may indicate the presence of other prostate diseases. If the elevated PSA is caused by prostatitis or adenoma, then they speak of a false positive test.

In order to avoid errors in the diagnosis, the doctor uses the PSA ratio, this allows you to evaluate the ratio of free and bound prostate-specific antigen. If bound PSA is elevated, then cancer is suggested, and if free - benign hyperplasia.

The norm of a dog in the blood of men and deviations from this indicator

The PSA norm in men is considered to be no more than 4.0 ng / ml, if this indicator is exceeded, the patient may be given a referral for a biopsy, but an elevated PSA is not always a sign of cancer. If a malignant tumor is suspected, the patient is assigned additional tests.

Elevated PSA level in the blood, the norm is more than 4.0 ng / ml:

Exceeding the norm suggests that the prostate gland is under the influence of any processes, internal or external. It rises only when the barrier between prostate cells and the circulatory system is broken.

External influences on the prostate:

  • examination of the gland by palpation;
  • massaging the prostate;
  • long bike rides
  • horse riding;
  • violent sex on the eve of analysis;
  • carrying out cystoscopy;
  • placement in the bladder catheter;
  • aging of the body (deviations by age);
  • taking medications to treat benign tissue growths and certain medications.

If there are no such external influences on the prostate, then they talk about the pathologies of the gland itself or other internal problems.

The norm of PSA in the blood of a man deviates with the following diseases:

  • exacerbation of chronic prostatitis;
  • inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract;
  • ischemia of the prostate;
  • prostate enlargement;
  • benign hyperplasia;
  • prostate infarction;
  • malignant tumor.

Reduced PSA level in the blood, the norm is less than 2.0 ng / ml:

A low PSA index is the norm, which means that the risk of developing pathological processes in the gland is minimal. A decrease in prostate-specific antigen indicates the effectiveness of the treatment of prostate diseases.

Result interpretation

PSA norm in men characterizes a healthy prostate gland. If the PSA is elevated, then the doctor deciphers the indicators, and it is very important to take two tests at once - free and general. It is the ratio of indicators that makes it possible to diagnose cancer and differentiate it from other pathologies that are similar in symptoms to a malignant tumor.

The concentration of total PSA in the blood changes slightly, an increase in the index can indicate both cancer and prostatitis, and adenoma. In malignant formation, the level of free PSA is low, and in benign hyperplasia or inflammatory processes in the prostate, it is high. A specialist, interpreting these indicators, can confidently diagnose cancer or exclude such a tumor.

note

The value of free PSA to the total is determined in the range from 12 to 100 percent. The higher the score, the less likely the risk of developing cancer.

If the doctor determines cancer, then additional studies are carried out to prescribe adequate treatment.

The traditional treatment for prostate cancer is as follows:

  1. external beam radiation therapy is the most common method of fighting cancer. It consists in irradiating a diseased organ, the projection of the organ is determined by MRI.
  2. Brachytherapy- is a type of radiotherapy, which is carried out in the absence of metastases. Considered the most effective technique to date, the advantage of the operation is that the radiation source is delivered directly to the affected organ, eliminating the harmful effects on other tissues.
  3. Prostatectomy- Surgery to treat prostate cancer. Such a radical measure is resorted to if other methods are not effective, as a result of the operation, the prostate gland, iliac lymph nodes and seminal vesicles are completely removed.

Blood test for PSA: the norm for age in men

To find out the level of PSA, you need to donate blood for analysis. Blood is taken from a vein in the morning, it is important to take the test before 11 am, when the risk of destruction of blood cells in the blood serum is minimal.

Before passing the analysis, a number of rules must be observed:

  • during the day before the analysis, you can not eat fatty foods;
  • on the day of blood donation, nervous and physical overstrain should be avoided;
  • it is not advisable to smoke at least 30 minutes before blood sampling;
  • you can not take an analysis if less than 10 days have passed since the prostate massage;
  • to avoid a false positive result, the test should not be done if there is inflammation of the urinary tract or after catheterization.

The older the man, the more prostate-specific antigen in the blood, so older people are advised to donate blood annually to determine the PSA index. The data is entered into a table, and the doctor can clearly see how the indicators change and whether there are reasons for concern.

A blood test for a dog is the norm by age (ng / ml):

  • up to forty - 1.4-2.5;
  • up to fifty - 2.0-2.5;
  • up to sixty - 3.1-3.5;
  • up to seventy - 4.1-4.5;
  • after seventy - 4.4-6.5.

A woman has a PSA level of 0.2 ng/mL and is not used to detect cancer.

The PSA tumor marker is a test performed on men to determine oncological diseases by taking blood. A tumor marker is a complex protein that detects malignant neoplasms at an early stage, which increases the chances of recovery. The study identifies prostate cancer. For the procedure, blood is taken, which is then subjected to laboratory study. In women, this examination is not available due to physiological differences.

A specific antigen of the prostate gland is produced in the reproductive organs, entering the liquid seminal substances. The task of the substance is to dilute the sperm, accelerating the movement of spermatozoa. A moderate amount of this substance is present in a healthy male body. If neoplasms or pathologies appear, then the concentration of the substance increases in excess of the permissible norm.

The doctor prescribes a procedure for studying a specific protein in men in the following cases:

  • Prostate cancer is suspected.
  • With increased inflammation of the prostate.
  • Hyperplasia, an increase in the number of organ cells.
  • Suspected prostate infarction.
  • Examination for preventive purposes.
  • Study of the effectiveness of the course of therapy.
  • Repeated procedure in order to avoid relapse after a course of treatment.

For the examination, the patient should take a blood test, which is studied in the laboratory. If the protein exceeds the permissible norm, this is not always a malignant formation. In such a case, a thorough, comprehensive diagnosis is prescribed for a man, and an indication for treatment is determined.

Types and features of procedures

There are two types of tumor marker:

  • PSA general. Determines the amount of specific antigens of the genitourinary system. A study is made of the general fraction of the antigen, and on the basis of the results obtained, pathologies and malignant tumors are detected. This analysis is considered dominant. Additional studies are assigned based on the results of the indicators obtained.
  • PSA free. Protein-free therapy. The free method is associated with another substance capable of blocking the specific substance.

Deviations of indicators from the norm signal the presence of pathology. Therefore, the patient is prescribed additional examinations to establish an accurate diagnosis. Making a decision based only on the results of a tumor marker is not professional.

What is the deviation from the norm

An increased content of specific proteins in the body signals not only the development of malignant tumors. The allowable rate increases in the following cases:

  • BPH.
  • The presence of an infection in the prostate gland.
  • Trauma and damage to the male genital organs.
  • Stagnant blood in the pelvic area.
  • Prostate cancer.

The doctor conducting the examination must know what deviations are characteristic of each disease.

How to Prepare for an Analysis

In order to obtain accurate results, the study must be prepared. The doctor warns the man about actions that bring down the indicator, violate the accuracy. Before the procedure, follow the rules:

  • Minimize the consumption of fried, fatty foods.
  • Refuse to take alcoholic beverages. Ethanol quickly penetrates into the blood, changing its composition. This will result in inaccurate analysis results.
  • At the time of the procedure, the body must be hungry. This is due to the fact that the processes associated with the digestion of food will not affect the test results.
  • Blood is taken in the morning, the concentration of antigens is increased at this time of day.
  • A week before the oncomarker, prostate massage should be abandoned.
  • On the day of the procedure, you need to stop smoking - passive and active.
  • On an empty stomach, before blood sampling, it is allowed to drink several glasses of warm water. It will not change the processes of the body, but will eliminate the feeling of hunger for a while, will bring a feeling of fullness in the stomach.
  • Two days before the analysis, it is supposed to refrain from sexual intercourse, outpouring of seminal fluid. This will have a beneficial effect on the accuracy of the results obtained.

It is better to reduce the time allotted for physical activity and sports. Running, outdoor recreation, cycling affect the blood circulation in the prostate gland. Because of this, the level of a specific protein can fluctuate. Compliance with the above rules will increase the effectiveness of the analysis, the indicators will not be knocked down by external factors.

Methods for diagnosing prostate cancer

The examination of the prostate begins with a digital rectal examination. This method allows you to detect the presence of a malignant or benign tumor. Then venous blood is taken for the PSA tumor marker. A thorough laboratory study allows you to determine the percentage of specific proteins that indicate the development of pathologies.

For complex diagnostics, computer, ultrasound methods, radiography of the small pelvis are used. These procedures do not cancel the oncomarker, but complement the effective examination of the body. The complex of procedures performed allows you to see a clear picture of diseases and pathologies.

Deciphering the results

The attending physician should read and interpret the results of the analysis. You cannot diagnose yourself. Separate oncology clinics use different tables of indicators, deviations from the norm. Also, the indicators fluctuate due to age factors and pre-existing diseases.

The doctor conducting the study must be informed about the characteristics of the patient's health. Even in healthy men who donate blood for PSA, the results may vary. With an over-permissible concentration of a specific protein in the body, a complex of additional examinations is prescribed. Decoding takes from one to three days, depending on the complexity of the disease or other factors. To determine the diagnosis, there is a specially designed table of indicators, in which the permissible norm for the content of antigens in the blood is calculated.

In a man over the age of 40, the amount of specific proteins in the prostate region should not exceed 2.5 ng / ml. Excessive content of the substance shows a violation of the functions of the body and the development of pathologies. At the age of over 60 years, the level of permissible concentration rises to 6.5 ng / ml. The allowable amount of protein is 0.22 ng / ml. The indicators are also affected by medications taken during the examination period. It is recommended to limit their intake during the preparation for the procedure. If it is not possible to stop taking the drug, it is necessary to inform the attending physician about this.

If the amount of specific proteins exceeds the tolerance by 10 ng / ml, this is a signal for the development of oncology. And with an increased level of the substance by 50 ng / ml, there is a sign that metastases are spreading to the internal organs. In the latter case, a complex of additional examinations of the body is prescribed.

Free PSA Scores

The variation in the antigen norm indicates the following pathologies:

  • A fluctuation of up to 10% signals a 50% chance of developing malignant tumors of the prostate gland.
  • If the deviation of the level of specific substances is 15%, then the probability of oncology is reduced to 30%.
  • With a 20% deviation from the norm, the risk of cancer is negligible - 10%.

Statistics show that patients seek medical help at an advanced stage of the development of the disease, when oncology is spreading. Therefore, men over the age of 40 are recommended to donate blood for a tumor marker annually as a preventive measure. This will reveal the pathology at an early stage, when the disease is treatable.

Distortion of the results

In a healthy man, PSA measurements can be distorted by external factors. Diagnosis of oncological diseases can be false, inaccurate. The concentration of antigens in the blood is affected by therapeutic drug treatment carried out during the period of the analysis. Some types of tumor marker are not applicable by age.

After undergoing a biopsy, the concentration of specific proteins in the prostate area remains elevated for three weeks. Also, rectal examination, procedures using ultrasound affect the increase in PSA. The following factors should be taken into account in order to obtain accurate information.

Each organism reveals its own characteristics and specifics; the doctor is supposed to approach the examination of the patient separately. The diagnosis is not made on the basis of a tumor marker. For an accurate picture of the disease, complex treatment is carried out.

Structure of specific PSA proteins

A specific substance in the prostate gland is a glycoprotein that has protease activity. It was first studied by scientists fifty years ago. Cell differentiation occurs in the genital organs. It penetrates the seminal fluid, contributing to the liquefaction of sperm, accelerating the movement of spermatozoa in the male reproductive organs.

The blood of a healthy man always contains a minimum amount of PSA. With the development of pathologies, malignant or benign tumors, its indicators increase. The examination takes into account the characteristics of the body, the presence of chronic diseases and features. Based on a comprehensive study, the attending physician determines the diagnosis.

International experts strongly recommend that men under the age of 50 undergo an annual examination of prostate adenoma. The procedure is useful for men who do not have a predisposition to cancer. In cases where there is a malignant effect on the prostate gland in the male lineage, the diagnosis should be regular.

The study of the level of specific proteins in the body is a useful analysis that reveals various pathologies. But you should not trust the test without undergoing a comprehensive physiological examination. An accurate diagnosis will be made after taking general tests, as well as their thorough examination. Having identified the disease, the doctor prescribes complex therapy, which lasts up to 12 months. Then the study of specific proteins with a tumor marker is repeated in order to prevent relapse.

Timely and regular examination detects the disease at an early stage of development. This will increase the chance of recovery or achieving a complete remission. For the prevention of oncology, doctors strongly do not recommend skipping doctor visits. Also, giving up bad habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, will reduce the risk of developing a malignant tumor. A healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition will strengthen the immune system, have a beneficial effect on the health of the body.

The PSA tumor marker is a marker of men's health, an analysis of the level of which is becoming increasingly popular. This is especially true for men over 40 years old, who want to check their health. And for those over 55 years old, doctors recommend taking an analysis for this protein annually.

Consult with an Israeli specialist

What is and what are the features of the marker

The PSA tumor marker is a prostate-specific antigen produced by the epithelial cells of the organ of the same name. Designed to thin the seminal fluid before it enters the urethra. Therefore, in certain quantities, this substance of a protein nature is always present in the body.

A feature of PSA is that it is found in the blood (up to 4 ng / ml) and in the ejaculate (about 1 mg / ml). This difference is due to the presence of a histohematological barrier.

In addition, a feature of the PSA tumor marker is its low specificity, since it is always produced in the body. Therefore, only one analysis for this protein is not enough for. At the same time, it allows you to determine the trend of malfunctions in the body and select a further examination.

There is also such a feature of the oncomarker as free, bound and total PSA. The latter is the sum of the first two calculated as a percentage. The norm of the oncomarker PSA of general and free is 0.2-4 ng / ml and 5.54 ng / ml or 15%, respectively.

The lower this indicator, the higher the risk that the increase in protein was the development of malignant compaction. In the case of a low rate (10-15%), further examination of the patient with instrumental and laboratory methods is recommended: ultrasound, TRUS, prostate biopsy.

Why analysis is needed, how to prepare for it and the features of its implementation

Testing for the PSA tumor marker is necessary to detect problems in the prostate gland, which are quite common among older men. But there are cases when violations in the work of the body are noted in young men under 30 years old, however, these are exceptions.

The main indications for the appointment of the study are the patient's complaints of pain in the prostate gland, problems with urination, discomfort in other organs of the genitourinary system.

Also, the analysis is prescribed to those who once had disorders in this gland or tumor neoplasms were found, who were treated for cancer (including those who underwent prostatectomy).

It is necessary to check the level of the PSA tumor marker annually for all those who have a family history of cases of cancer, and those who are over 40-55 years old, depending on their general health and lifestyle.

It is also recommended to undergo an examination for those who have a tendency to inflammation, ischemia, heart attack. It would not be superfluous to check the norm of tumor markers for those who are busy or live in adverse conditions (hypothermia leads to inflammation, the relapses of which can provoke the development of neoplasms).

An examination is also prescribed to control treatment, possible relapses after recovery, detection of metastases or their absence.

In order for the test result to be as accurate as possible, it is important to follow the preparation requirements. Nothing special is required for this, the main thing is:

It is necessary to follow a diet, but do not eat anything before the analysis. You can only drink some clean water. If the study is assigned to a child or teenager, before the analysis, he must be allowed to drink warm boiled water.

To check the norm of the PSA tumor marker, a man needs to donate venous blood. If pathological cells are detected, a biopsy is taken for re-examination in order to conduct a histological analysis.

Since taking the material may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations, it is necessary to warn the patient about this, but in the correct form, since it is important that the person be in a calm, relaxed state.

A study is carried out according to the ECLIA method (immunochemical with electrochemiluminescent detection) using special equipment.

Research stages:

  • Using a syringe, blood is taken from a vein and poured into a test tube with a sealed lid.
  • The resulting material enters the transport medium, where the serum is separated, which serves as a sample.
  • Antibodies are manually introduced into the blood serum, and a reaction is set based on the results of their interaction.
  • The result is recorded in the protocol and issued to the patient.

After taking blood, a cotton ball with an antiseptic is applied to the patient. In some cases, a voucher for free sweet tea is issued.

If after the blood sampling procedure a hematoma has formed in the venipuncture area, warming compresses are prescribed.

Decoding and norms of the dog marker

The PSA tumor marker normally has the following interpretation:

An increase in this level can be caused by such reasons:

  • Inflammation of the prostate.
  • Benign growths of prostate tissue.
  • Oncology of the prostate.
  • A variety of chronic injuries, surgical procedures, diagnostics in the organ area, for example, rectal, ultrasound, massage, biopsy, etc. Also, ejaculation shortly before analysis can increase the rate.
  • Acute urinary retention.

A positive result for the tumor marker PSA total and free PSA does not necessarily mean the presence of cancer. It may show other problems as well. Therefore, further testing is always necessary..

Please note that the interpretation of the results is always done by the doctor of the clinic where the examination was carried out.

To obtain a reliable result, both free and bound prostate-specific antigen must be examined. And all because the general PSA oncomarker shows inflammatory and other diseases that are not associated with changes in the tissues of the organ. Free, on the other hand, shows the presence or absence of benign, cancerous tumors in the prostate region, and also allows you to determine the prospect of metastasis or the presence of this process.


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