Age-specific reference levels of serum prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume in healthy Arab men.
OBJECTIVE; To determine age-specific reference ranges for serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration and prostate volumes in a population of healthy Arab men.


METHODS
Blood samples were taken from 396 healthy Arab men (from Kuwait and Oman) aged 15-79 years and from across the social spectrum. Men aged >40 years had a digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate to determine prostate volume. The serum PSA level was measured using commercial kits, and age-specific ranges for PSA levels and prostate volume determined.


RESULTS
The serum PSA ranges (ng/mL) for each age range in Arab men were: 40-49 years, 0-0.9; 60-69, 0-2.7; 70-79, 0-5.5 ng/mL; the respective prostate volumes were 8-22, 9-30 and 10-33 mL. The serum PSA level and prostate volume correlated with age (P < 0.001). Arab men had lower serum PSA levels and prostate volumes than those reported for Caucasians, but similar to those reported for Asians (Japanese and Chinese).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that Arab men have lower PSA levels and prostate volumes than Caucasians. The levels are slightly lower than those reported in the Japanese and, as in the Japanese, low PSA levels and small prostate volumes might be related to the low incidence of clinical prostate cancer in Arab men.
Kehinde
Elijah O
EO
Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. ekehinde@hsc.edu.kw
Mojiminiyi
Olusegun A
OA
Sheikh
Mehraj
M
Al-Awadi
Kaleel A
KA
Daar
Abdallah S
AS
Al-Hunayan
Adel
A
Anim
Jehoram T
JT
Al-Sumait
Aisha A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000208:ethnology; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen