Effect of transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate on serum prostate specific antigen concentration.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUVP) on serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration.


METHODS
Twenty-five men (mean age 61.7 years) with symptoms of prostatism underwent TUVP. Serum PSA levels were determined before any prostatic manipulation, and again at 1 and 24 h after TUVP. In the first 6 weeks after TUVP, serum PSA was measured every week. Prostatic size was measured by transrectal ultrasonography before and again at 6 weeks after TUVP.


RESULTS
The mean serum PSA concentration was significantly higher at 1 and 24 h after TUVP (P<0.001) than before. The PSA level returned to less than the value before TUVP at 2, 3 and 4 weeks afterwards in eight (32%), 13 (52%) and 20 (80%) patients, respectively; five (20%) patients reached the baseline value 6 weeks after TUVP. The mean reduction in prostatic volume 6 weeks after TUVP was 42% and the reduction in tissue volume was significantly correlated with the decrease in serum PSA concentration at 6 weeks (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TUVP increases serum PSA levels, the transient elevation persisting for up to 6 weeks but then declining to a stable, low PSA concentration. Therefore, it is important to wait at least 6 weeks to obtain an accurate and meaningful serum PSA level after TUVP.
Küpeli
S
S
Department of Urology, University of Ankara, Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
Soygür
T
T
Yilmaz
E
E
Aytaç
S
S
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*
D015415:Biomarkers; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen