title: Repeated spurious elevation of serum prostate-specific antigen values solved by chemiluminescence analysis: A possible interference by heterophilic antibodies.
abstract: Heterophilic antibodies are human immunoglobulins directed against various animal antigens. They can produce false-positive results in the analysis of different tumor markers, including prostate-specific antigen. This interference can lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary tests, and overtreatment in some cases. We present herein the case of a 52-year-old man with repeated spurious elevation of prostate-specific antigen, reaching levels of 108.7 ng/mL, that were suspected to be caused by heterophilic antibodies. The interference was solved by changing the analysis technique. Real values of prostate-specific antigen were less than 1 ng/mL.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Institut Català dUrologia i Nefrologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: Laboratori d'anàlisis M. Bayó, Terrassa, Spain.
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayó
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Institut Català dUrologia i Nefrologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Institut Català dUrologia i Nefrologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bellido
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Institut Català dUrologia i Nefrologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Abascal-Junquera
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Institut Català dUrologia i Nefrologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hannaoui
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Institut Català dUrologia i Nefrologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Banús
mesh_terms: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: Analysis; Diagnosis; Heterophile antibodies; Immunoassay; Prostate-specific antigen