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PSA reduction (after antibiotics) permits to avoid or postpone prostate biopsy in selected patients

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 11, pages 148–152 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Microscopic foci of prostatitis may induce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) increase. PSA reduction after antibiotics might identify those patients in whom biopsy can be avoided. Ninety-nine patients received ciprofloxacin for 3 weeks, of whom 59 showed PSA reduction. Histology detected small foci of prostatitis in 65% of cases. Carcinoma was found in 40 and 20.3% of patients with unchanged or decreased PSA, respectively (P=0.03). No cancer was detected if PSA decreased below 4 ng/ml or more than 70%. Biopsy can be postponed, with a low risk of missing a cancer, if PSA decreases more than 70% or below 4 ng/ml.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the GSTU (‘Gruppo Studio Tumori Urologici’) Foundation for the kind support for the statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephro-Urological Diseases, Institute of Urology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    V Serretta, A Catanese, G Daricello, R Liotta & D Melloni

  2. Department of Statistics, GSTU (Gruppo Studi Tumori Urologici) Foundation, Palermo, Italy

    R Allegro

  3. Department of Human Pathology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    A Martorana & F Aragona

Authors
  1. V Serretta
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  2. A Catanese
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  3. G Daricello
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  4. R Liotta
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  5. R Allegro
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  6. A Martorana
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  7. F Aragona
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  8. D Melloni
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Correspondence to V Serretta.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases website (http://www.nature.com/pcan)

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Serretta, V., Catanese, A., Daricello, G. et al. PSA reduction (after antibiotics) permits to avoid or postpone prostate biopsy in selected patients. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 11, 148–152 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500996

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500996

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