Understanding Elevated PSA Levels: Causes and What They Mean

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. The PSA laboratory test reports the level of that protein in the man̵7;s blood.

Identification

• PSA readings are reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng./mL.) According to the Johns Hopkins Prostate Bulletin, values above 4 ng./mL are associated with increasingly higher risks for prostate cancer.

Considerations

• Older men typically have higher PSA readings than younger ones, even in the absence of disease.

Types

• A high PSA reading indicates abnormalities in a man̵7;s prostate, but not necessarily prostate cancer. A man may have an elevated PSA if he has a non-cancerous prostate disorder or has recently undergone urinary procedures. Sexual activity can also cause a high PSA unrelated to prostate cancer.

Features

• Prostate disorders that raise PSA include inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (non-cancerous enlargement). Prostate biopsies can cause an elevated PSA for up to four to six weeks. A man over 50 years of age who has ejaculated within the past 48 hours may have a falsely elevated PSA.

Warning

• Some medications, including finasteride used to treat hair loss and statins for high cholesterol, can lower a man̵7;s PSA level and mask the presence of prostate cancer.