title: Determination of the association of urine prostate specific antigen levels with anthropometric variables in children aged 5-14 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Calculation of PSA is possible in human fluids even if it presents in very low concentrations with the help of hypersensitive immunodiagnostic methods. The periurethral glands represent one of the potential sources of urine prostate specific antigen (uPSA) in both sexes but the purpose of studying PSA levels in children is still unclear in the literature. In this pilot study we studied uPSA in a small cohort of normal, pre and post pubertal children, in relation to standard anthropometric variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study cohort consisted of 58 children 5-14 years old (42 boys/16 girls). Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and the respective stature-for-age, weight-for-age and BMI-for-age percentiles of the sample were determined. uPSA levels were measured using a third generation immunodiagnostic method (DPC Immulite that has a lower limit of detection of 3 ng/L. When levels of PSA were above the upper limit of detection, uPSA levels were assessed using the ROCHE technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  uPSA levels tend to be higher in male than female children (p = 0.091, linear regression analysis). uPSA was measurable only in 3/16 girls (18.75%). Measurable uPSA was found in 18/42 boys (42.8%). The range of urine PSA in boys was 0-161000 ng/L (mean 10561.9 +/- 31830.48 ng/L). Statistical analysis with linear regression showed correlation with height and age in boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of hypersensitive assays allows calculation of uPSA in childhood. The values of this variable are measurable in both sexes and related with gender. In boys, uPSA was correlated with age and height but not with other variables tested. Further studies are required to clarify this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece. efthimiou_ioannis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Efthimiou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferentinos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsachouridis
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sardana
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diamandis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000652:urine*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen