The urgency of the problem of increasing urological morbidity among men of active age is gaining momentum in recent years, despite all the achievements of modern medicine. The need for early diagnosis and prevention of these diseases is only increasing. The PSA analysis of the prostate is one of the most effective, affordable, informative methods with which you can detect signs of adenoma or prostate cancer. Oncology in the male genital area is one of the most pressing problems of diagnostic medicine.
This diagnosis is considered a kind of nightmare that awaits almost all men after forty years. Is this really so and what can be done to avoid prostatitis, cancer and prostate adenoma?
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the male, secretory active gland, which is located, as if covering the urethra from the outside, when it leaves the bladder. It participates in the formation of sperm by secreting prostatic juice into the semen. Inflammation or degeneration of the prostate tissue leads to an increase in its size. The consequence of this process is the compression of the lumen of the urethra, impaired urination, erectile dysfunction.
It is possible to diagnose the inflammatory process of the prostate tissues by seeking help from a urologist. For this, the doctor will conduct all the necessary examinations. Typically, a research plan consists of the following steps:
- interview and examination of the patient;
- appointment of laboratory tests;
- obtaining results and evaluating data;
- the appointment of treatment.
Depending on what disease is detected during the examination (acute or chronic), the tactics of therapy is determined.
Laboratory methods used for the diagnostic stage of inflammatory diseases of the prostate:
The list of laboratory data is supplemented with the results of instrumental methods, such as ultrasound, tomography.
General PSA blood test
A significant scientific and diagnostic breakthrough at the end of the 1980s was the discovery of a prostate-specific antigen found in the bloodstream. The determination of this indicator has allowed the development of a mass of techniques that help in the early diagnosis of cancer, adenoma and other pathologies of male health.
A common PSA blood test for prostatitis is already an ordinary norm of the diagnostic stage. To determine it, a biochemical laboratory is needed, which is available in almost all medical institutions.
Definition of PSA (what is it)
PSA is a protein substance, a glycoprotein that is found in the blood of men and the ratio of its fractions determines the presence or absence of a cancerous, precancerous or pathological condition of the prostate of another nature.
The prostate tissue is the site of the production of this substance, the functional purpose of which has not yet been fully understood. But the participation of PSA in the dilution of semen has already been clarified. The substance is present in the body of a healthy man in the form of a prostate-specific antigen in a small amount. On the basis of observations, long-term study after the discovery of this unique element, the content norms were developed, the increased and decreased limits, the relationship of the indicator with the presence of tumor, inflammatory and other pathological changes in the prostate tissue were found.
The total amount of PSA is the sum of the substance that is in the free state and the bound fraction. It is the ratio of these two components to each other that is called the index, which can characterize the current pathological process.
The indicator reaction is based on the mechanism of antigen binding to a specific antibody. It is clear that we cannot see this process directly. Therefore, in order to assess how exactly the connection of substances will take place among themselves, an indicator is added to the complex, which gives a glow. The luminescence intensity reflects the binding activity. Thus, it is possible to fix the normal PSA level or it has deviations from the norm, to decipher the results.
Influence of the inflammatory process on the PSA index
Modern medical reference books provide explanations for the levels of certain substances or blood parameters. PSA is normalized in men in the range from 0 to 4 ng in 1 ml of blood. Obtaining such numbers means only one thing - the body is healthy. An excess of the specified amount occurs with a pronounced inflammatory process, and not only in the prostate gland. These can be respiratory viral infections, inflammation of other organs, taking certain groups of drugs that negatively affect the PSA index.
If there are no more signs of a pathological process inside the prostate, then the right decision would be to remove all suspicions by re-analysis at intervals of up to two weeks. This is at the stage of primary diagnosis. If it is necessary to check the treatment of prostatitis or adenoma, a tumor of the gland, then during and after therapy, a control analysis is also carried out. The next time you need to donate blood is no earlier than two weeks later.
Indications for the study
Conducting a blood test for prostatitis for PSA indicators is advisable in any case. But there are conditions or pathologies when it is necessary to donate blood to find out the content of this substance in order to accurately determine the diagnosis in unclear situations in order to predict further tactics of treatment or rehabilitation. The analysis in this case is shown to the following groups of persons:
- men over the age of forty;
- convalescents after radical anticancer treatment;
- patients who are suspected of having a prostate tumor;
- men after a course of treatment for adenoma, prostatitis to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.
Despite the undoubted advantages of the method, it is necessary to take into account many subtleties when decoding its results, accompanying factors and the correct preparation for donating blood for PSA.
Preparation for the test
Blood is a tissue of the body, the state of which it reflects. That is why you can take it for analysis, establish the degree of disorder of other functions. The research is carried out "in vitro", that is, outside the human body, "in glass", literally. Hence, preparation is essential to obtain objective data.
The following requirements must be carefully considered:
- The last meal, drinks, except water, is allowed no later than 8 - 9 hours before the study.
- Sex life should be absent for a week.
- The examination by the urologist should be either after the analysis, or 10-14 days before it.
- Any mechanical impact on the urethra or prostate will automatically postpone the analysis by at least two weeks.
- A few days before the planned study, stop drinking alcohol, smoke as little as possible.
All of the above measures will help to obtain an accurate, reference, adequate result, which will help in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the patient.
Indicators and their decoding
Total PSA consists of a fraction of free and bound substance. It is the level of free antigen that indicates the presumptive nature of the pathology. The normal value is the amount from 0 to 4 ng in 1 ml of blood. This is a good result, reporting a completely healthy body. 
The variant in which the obtained values \u200b\u200bare in the range from 4 to 10 ng in 1 ml is no longer so favorable. This is an indicator of the presence of inflammatory changes in the tissues of the gland itself, adenomatous growths, and a possible incipient malignant process.
Exceeding the value of 10 ng / ml makes us pay close attention to the oncological nature of problems with the prostate gland. This result must be objectified by defining free PSA separately: the larger its proportion, the more chances that the tumor is benign.
Contraindications to the study
The patient may refuse to have a PSA blood test. There are no other contraindications to this test. This is the usual standard for a complete examination for suspected prostatitis, adenoma, or prostate cancer. You just need to properly prepare to obtain an objective result.
False result
You can get a false positive result in some cases, you need to know about them in order to avoid such an outcome:
- sexual contact on the eve of blood donation;
- examination by a urologist shortly before the analysis;
- biopsy examination of prostate tissue;
- catheterization of the bladder with difficulty urinating;
- food intake, alcohol, sugary drinks later than 8-9 hours.
The patient needs to explain all these subtleties that can negatively affect the correctness of the result.
This goal must be set, but not in order to reduce the level of the indicator, but to obtain a positive trend in treatment. This will be evidenced by the decrease in PSA.
Medicines
The effect of reducing prostate-specific antigen is achieved with the following drugs:
- Inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase, which are used in the treatment of adenoma. Among them are such as "Dutasteride", "Finasteride".
- Thiazide diuretics are not etiological drugs for the treatment of prostate diseases, but with prolonged use they lower the PSA of the blood.
- Cholesterol-lowering statins, when taken long-term, lower PSA levels.
Medicines cannot be prescribed to yourself.
Folk remedies
The use of traditional medicine helps in the treatment of diseases of the prostate gland, as evidenced by a decrease in PSA when using such drugs:
- Beekeeping products: honey, recipes based on it, propolis, pollen.
- Herbs that reduce inflammatory reactions: chamomile, mint, sage, St. John's wort, oregano, celandine, yarrow, lungwort, calendula.
- Flax seeds, nuts. They are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which strengthen blood vessels, lower cholesterol, normalize blood flow and filtration in the renal tubules.
- Plants with poisonous properties: fly agaric, hemlock, chaga, aconite. They have a detrimental effect on cancer cells and help to remove them from the body.
The cost of folk remedies is quite low, but in combination with adequate drug therapy, non-traditional recipes give a good effect. There are frequent cases of surgery to treat the prostate, after which PSA also returns to normal levels.
Prevention of increased PSA
All men need to monitor their health, and not only after forty years. For this, one should eat rationally, exclusion of alcohol, smoking, not to mention drugs is required.
An orderly, regular sex life, preferably with regular partners, will prevent infectious agents from entering the prostate tissue. You should also seek qualified help in time if you suspect sexually transmitted diseases. The doctor will not only prescribe the necessary treatment, but will conduct an ultrasound scan and other important examinations of the pelvic organs. The tips are quite simple, but their price is very high - men's health.
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Details of laboratory diagnosis of prostatitis 
Diagnostic measures for detecting inflammation of the prostate
Sometimes diagnostic measures using ultrasound or TRUS does not give a complete information picture about the health of the male body. In this case, they resort to prescribing an analysis for the content of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. It is synthesized exclusively by the parenchymal tissue of the prostate gland and ensures the dissolution of sperm at the time of ejaculation.
PSA analysis for prostatitis reveals an increase in the size of the prostate (the higher the indicator, the more significant the change). In addition, this analysis is also called tumor markers, since it is performed to confirm malignant prostatic hyperplasia.
The main indications for PSA
As an oncological marker, this type of diagnosis involves establishing the presence of benign or malignant prostatic hyperplasia. An increase in PSA levels in prostatitis usually causes slight abnormalities.
Relatively recently, an innovative method of analysis appeared, which was called PSAZ. It provides an accurate diagnosis of prostatitis, allowing it to be distinguished from prostate cancer.
The main situations in which the appointment is made:
When does the increase in the analysis of prostate-specific antigen occur?
If, in a laboratory study, an increase in the indicator of this type of analysis is diagnosed, then in most cases this is an alarming signal that requires a systemic examination of the patient, followed by the appointment of appropriate therapy.
The main factors that increase laboratory test rates:
- hyperplasia as a result of cellular proliferation of the parenchymal tissue of the prostate (cancer);
- inflammatory process in the prostate gland (prostatitis);
- adenomatous proliferation of prostate cells (adenoma);
- as a result of ischemic disease, the development of a heart attack.
Sometimes there are situations when a high analysis rate is the result of a course of rectal massage for prostatitis, after a biopsy or diagnosis by TRUS. Also, operable therapy may be the cause of this situation. This must be taken into account before taking blood for research.
Criteria for the norm of PSA concentration in the male body
Allowable rate of indicators.
What you need to know about the indicator of the concentration of prostate-specific antigen in the inflammatory process of the prostate gland?
The norm of PSA levels in prostatitis can range from 4 to 10 ng / ml.
However, it should be noted:
To establish the degree of changes in the prostate, and to assess the quality of the treatment process, the laboratory data obtained for free and total prostate antigen are compared.
As evidenced by the PSA analysis for prostatitis:
- A decrease in the free indicator with a simultaneous sharp rise in the total antigen may indicate a malignant degeneration of the parenchymal tissue.
- The chronic form is accompanied by a rise in the free antigen value.
- The acute process of inflammation in the gland is accompanied by a sharp rise in 2 indicators, which return to normal after the therapy.
To establish the concentration of prostate-specific antigen in the blood with a high degree of certainty, a man should not engage in active sports within 4 days, avoid cycling.
In addition, it is necessary to cancel (if prescribed) sessions of rectal massage. Tobacco smoking and the use of alcoholic beverages fall under the complete taboo. Sexual intercourse should be avoided for three or four days.
The prostate is a vital gland of the endocrine system that is located just below the urinary tract. The urethral canal passes through it, along which sperm moves.
The organ produces secretory substances that are an integral part of the ejaculate. One of the secrets of the prostate gland is.
A laboratory analysis with the same name, in the presence of a strong one, is considered a medical study that must be carried out when diagnosing this disease of the male urogenital area. What is PSA analysis for, and what is it?
PSA is a polypeptide substance, or rather, a protein that is produced not only by normal prostate cells in the stronger sex, but also.
It plays an important enzymatic role and takes part in the process of liquefying the semen. It is important to note that the rate of this compound is when a small amount is present both in the semen and in the plasma of a mature man.
Prostate specific antigen is produced by both healthy cell structures and pathological ones. With the help of this type of research, you can timely find out about the presence of certain ailments.
It is for this reason that this analysis is considered the most reliable and accurate cancer marker. Thanks to him, you can immediately detect foci of inflammation, the degree of general damage, and other pathological ailments.
General and free PSA level norm
Let's look at the rate of total PSA in prostatitis.
The following concentrations of the protein compound are considered acceptable values:
- 39 - 50 years old - 2.4 ng / ml;
- 51 - 60 years old - 3.4 ng / ml;
- 61 - 70 years old - 4.4 ng / ml;
- over 71 years - 6.4 ng / ml.
Prostate-specific antigen assays showing a concentration of this protein compound above 10 ng / ml indicate the presence of a strong inflammatory process in the prostate.
They can also talk about availability. If, after receiving the test results, a person found that the content of this protein substance increased to 30 ng / ml or more, then this signals an increased division of malignant cell structures.
In this case, it is urgent to carry out. If this is not done, then the consequences can be disappointing. As a result, the man will die. It is for this reason that the representatives of the stronger sex, who are at risk for age, should regularly visit their urologist and take all relevant tests.
As for, the PSA index for this disease can be equal to 6.4 - 10 ng / ml.It is especially important to highlight the category of fifty-year-old men.
They are required to visit their specialist annually and take a PSA test for the timely detection of the inflammatory process occurring in the prostate gland.
As a rule, the earlier an ailment is diagnosed, the easier it will be to get rid of it. As for, which is not associated with protein molecules, then this figure is normally about 9 - 19% of.
It is very important for the stronger sex to monitor their own well-being, including the normal performance of the prostate, which plays one of the factors in maintaining male health.
To maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is imperative to follow the following recommendations of doctors:
- a balanced diet is very important, especially if an inflammatory process occurs in the prostate gland. Doctors say that you need to consume as much fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. It is necessary to enrich your own diet with low-calorie fish, as well as other seafood that are rich in essential and minerals;
- you should also keep in shape with the help of daily and moderate;
- a man needs to be more outdoors and make walks permanent;
- visit a personal urologist once a year in order to timely diagnose existing prostate diseases.
If all of the above tips and tricks are followed, not only physical health will improve, but also the psycho-emotional state of the stronger sex.
Is there an increase in the level of antigen in the blood with prostatitis?
Even though modern medicine does not stand still, and new innovative methods of treatment appear regularly, the problem of timely diagnosis of some ailments associated with the performance of the male genital organs is still relevant. This is especially true for the most common diseases: prostatitis, prostate adenoma and cancer.
It is these ailments that prevail over the rest of the medical problems of the stronger sex. In particular, as noted earlier, the risk group includes people over forty-five years old.
Unfortunately, most men do not see any problem in the emergence of this or that serious illness. They turn to specialists only when the process becomes chronic.
Well, or more dangerous and uncomfortable consequences appear. So is there an increase in serum PSA concentration during inflammatory processes occurring in the prostate or not?
Let's look at two common ones:
- pSA level at: Generally, a sudden increase in performance. After the disease has been eliminated, the PSA volume returns to normal;
- concentration of prostate-specific antigen in chronic prostatitis... If the PSA content exceeds all permissible values, then this can only indicate that the inflammatory process has gradually developed into oncology. This is only possible with chronic prostatitis. In any case, a mandatory clarification of the diagnosis is required.
If you suspect an inflammatory process in the prostate, it is imperative to pass biochemical blood tests for the presence of antigen. For the subsequent diagnosis of the disease, a study should be carried out for total and free PSA.
The indicators of the analysis help to correctly determine the presence of an inflammatory process of the prostate in an acute or chronic form. The specialist monitors the obtained values \u200b\u200bto find out how effective it turned out to be. This helps to adjust the treatment. Doctors prove the effectiveness of early diagnosis of prostatitis by plasma antigen concentration.
The value of the ratio of free and total prostatic specific antigen lies in the possibility of detecting any ailments of the gland.
Maximum PSA values \u200b\u200bare 19 to 40 ng / ml... In the inflammatory process, the indicators are lower and, in general, provided there are no complications at all, they do not increase more than 10 ng / ml.
A PSA blood test is prescribed for suspected prostatitis. The numbers above the norm indicate the presence of a strong inflammatory process.
The study may not show that the patient is progressing this unpleasant ailment. To clarify and confirm the diagnosis, it will be necessary to carry out additional diagnostic methods.
With a subsequent exacerbation of the inflammatory process, PSA may continue to increase, reaching unfavorable numbers. But, as a rule, the values \u200b\u200bdecrease only after.
What other diseases of the prostate gland increase PSA?
In the following diseases, the level of the protein compound may increase steadily:
- prostatitis. This is an inflammation of the tissue structures of the prostate, which is triggered by a bacterial infection;
- ... The disease is characterized;
- ischemia;
Related Videos
What is PSA? What is considered the norm for men? Answers in the video:
At the moment it is known that the age of the stronger sex is one of the main factors that affects the concentration of a protein compound in the blood. The older a man is, the higher the serum PSA level. If you follow all the recommendations of doctors, you can prevent an increase in the level of this protein substance.
General analysis of PSA is the determination of indicators of prostate specific antigen, the production of which is produced by the tissue of the prostate gland. The PSA protein is needed to thin male sperm. It should be noted that more of this substance is formed by malignant neoplasms. For this reason, the analysis is used as a tumor marker in prostate cancer. In addition, absolutely any pathological process that occurs in a man's body can affect the amount of this produced protein. That is why PSA analysis for prostatitis must be done. Thanks to him, you can identify the development of oncology or prostate adenoma. So, let us consider in more detail what the PSA analysis is for prostatitis, what are its norms, and also for what reasons there are deviations from it.
Why does protein increase
How is the quantity of this element determined? To determine the level of protein, it is necessary to pass a free PSA test. The norm of this antigen should be no more than 4. With the presence of malignant cells in the body, protein production begins to increase significantly. For the rest, with a general PSA blood test for prostatitis, the rate will increase for the following reasons:
- The antigen level may increase due to existing infections, which are also accompanied by an inflammatory process in the male body. In such a situation, the barrier function of the tissue is disrupted, due to which the substance gradually enters the blood.
- The PSA protein of the prostate can actively enter the bloodstream if the overgrown tissues with the existing benign prostatic hyperplasia press on other tissues of the organ.
It should be noted that the analysis of antigen in such a disease as prostatitis reveals any deviation and violation in the entire work of the male body. The majority of patients with an elevated antigen count do not suffer from cancer. With a general blood test for PSA in prostatitis, the rate may increase due to surgical intervention on the bladder or due to a biopsy of the prostate gland. In addition, the amount of antigen in the blood increases during ejaculation or after prolonged physical exertion.
When to get tested
As mentioned earlier, PSA analysis is taken for prostatitis. However, this is done in other cases as well. The specialist prescribes these laboratory tests in the following situations:
- To watch the progress of prostate cancer. Thanks to this, you can check the effectiveness of the selected treatment tactics.
- With suspicions of a neoplasm on the prostate gland. However, this can also be detected with other diagnostic methods: ultrasound, digital rectal examination, and others.
- For prophylaxis, antigen analysis is prescribed to patients over 40 years of age to detect an increase in protein levels.
- After anticancer therapy, which was carried out after diagnosis of prostate cancer. As a rule, after such treatment, experts recommend that patients undergo this examination at least once every 3 months.
Preparation for the test
In order to donate blood for PSA analysis for prostatitis, you should carefully prepare for this procedure. If you ignore this step, then the protein antigen indicator will be incorrect. For this reason, experts recommend observing the following rules:
- About 8 hours before blood sampling, do not eat, and also stop drinking alcoholic beverages, strong tea, coffee and juice.
- It is also necessary to give up sexual intercourse about 5-7 days before blood sampling.
- The analysis must be taken 12-14 days after the examination of the urologist or before his visit.
If massage of the prostate gland, bladder catheterization, transrectal ultrasound or cystoscopy, digital rectal examination or other mechanical effect on the prostate was done, then the blood is taken 2 weeks after such research methods, and if a biopsy of the prostate gland tissue was performed, then the analysis is submitted after 1 month after this procedure.
Deciphering the PSA analysis is carried out for about 1 day. To pass the analysis to a man, a specialist must give a referral, after which the patient is prepared, and then donates blood from a vein. Sometimes it is required to determine either free antigen or a total indicator. This is necessary in order to more accurately diagnose the patient.
Decoding the results
We have already discussed with you what PSA analysis means for prostatitis. But how does it stand for? Antigen analysis for a given disease can be interpreted by several methods. Blood antigen levels are generally measured in nanograms per ml of blood. At the same time, some experts say that the minimum threshold for this indicator should be reduced to 2.5. Thanks to this, more prostate diseases can be detected. However, there is a risk that specialists, as a result of this test, will treat cancer that has no clinical significance. During the diagnosis, three types of protein should be considered:
- Free prostate specific antigen. This antigen is found in the blood, accounting for about 20% of the total PSA.
- A protein that is associated with A1-antichymotrypsin or A2-macroglobulin. Only the first type of antigen can be determined in the laboratory.
- General score for PSA analysis. This indicator includes the totality of the protein that enters the bloodstream.
PSA and prostatitis
This disease, in fact, cannot be called a malignant disease. After all, prostatitis does not even increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer. But with the help of regular monitoring of the antigen level, you can correctly adjust the treatment, which is aimed at combating the inflammatory process. If the antigen indicator is in the range from 4 to 10, then this may indicate the development of the following diseases:
- Prostatitis.
- Oncology of the prostate gland. In this case, the risk of diagnosing the disease increases by about 25%.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia.
It should be noted that this indicator of the antigen level is called the gray zone by experts among themselves. If the protein concentration rises above 10, then there is a probability of developing oncology by about 67%.
Quite often, the level of common antigen is directly related to a type of prostate ailment. This analysis is often used for differential diagnosis.
How disease is defined
If the analysis was submitted and performed correctly, and the antigen level is between 45 and ten, then during the diagnosis, experts pay attention to the following protein fractions and ratios:
- A decrease in the concentration of free antigen increases the risk of developing cancer. This is due to the fact that malignant cells produce much more A1-atichymotrypsin.
- An increased concentration of free antigen, on the contrary, reduces the risk of developing cancer. Moreover, this indicator may indicate the presence of chronic prostatitis.
Other data
A general analysis for the determination of antigen in the blood for prostatitis, the price of which will differ depending on the clinic, is recommended for patients who are more than 50 years old at intervals of once a year. To improve the test results, additional indicators are used that allow considering the protein depending on various parameters.
During the analysis, the density of the antigen should be considered. Due to this, it is possible to calculate the protein concentration in relation to the size of the prostate itself, which is determined using transrectal ultrasound. Low antigen density may indicate that the main reason for its growth lies in the development of prostatitis.
In addition, the rate of antigens is also taken into account. It is a comparison of antigen over a certain period of time. If the indicator increases rapidly, then the specialist can diagnose the patient with acute prostatitis. This may also indicate the initial stage of oncology.
Protein control
It is possible to track the indicator of protein in the blood only with the help of the analysis, which is discussed in this article. The specialist must study the features of this test in detail. For example, as a result of recent studies, it has been proven that a disease such as prostatitis can lead to an increase in serum levels of this antigen. It is necessary to take the test even if there are no signs of an inflammatory process, and a digital rectal examination does not reveal any abnormalities.
First of all, such phenomena indicate that the prostate does not work well due to some disorders. If the analysis indicators jump sharply, then doctors in this case recommend:
- If the antigen level has increased significantly, then it is necessary to check for symptoms of prostatitis, as well as any genitourinary infection.
- After prostatitis therapy or after genitourinary infections, it is necessary to re-pass the PSA test.
The cost
The price of such a test is from 600 rubles. and more. In some clinics, the patient can also pay extra for blood sampling from a vein. To tell about a more accurate price, in any case, you will have to contact the laboratory in your clinic.
Conclusion
There is no direct evidence that prostatitis triggers prostate cancer. But the histological signs of this disease are often diagnosed by doctors during the study of cancerous tissues of the prostate gland.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced in a man's body (in the prostate gland) that serves to dilute sperm. The amount of protein increases with age, with prostatitis, neoplasms. Therefore, PSA serves as a tumor marker for prostate cancer or other pathological process. All men should periodically undergo PSA analysis for prostatitis in order to timely identify oncology or adenoma.
To establish the correct diagnosis and recognize negative changes in diseases of the prostate gland, a set of examinations is prescribed. PSA in chronic prostatitis makes it possible to detect inflammation and oncology in the prostate, so it is mandatory for diagnosis.
An examination of the patient is required to assess the condition of the affected organ, then an ultrasound scan to examine the neighboring organs. Chronic prostatitis can affect the bladder and urinary system, kidneys, testicles, and rectum. An examination in the inflammatory process of glandular tissues will help to distinguish prostatitis from similar ailments such as urethritis, vesiculitis, etc.
If the doctor has all the information on the disease, he will be able to prescribe the appropriate treatment. Without studies and a blood test for PSA, you can make a mistake in the diagnosis and make the wrong prescription of drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to fulfill all the assignments for the analyzes and in the future strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.
Prostatitis is a disease of the prostate gland accompanied by an inflammatory process. It occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, previously untreated infections, non-compliance with diet, long abstinence from sex, etc.
Symptoms of the disease can be different: severe pain in the small pelvis, delay in urination, problems in bed. It happens that prostatitis does not make itself felt, so once a year you need to visit a doctor in order to timely identify the onset of the disease.
Prostatitis is determined by examining urine, blood, and prostate secretions. Palpation and ultrasound are performed, and in case of a controversial situation, other examinations are prescribed.
Determination of the PSA level in chronic prostatitis is a necessary analysis for diagnosing the disease. Having studied its results, you can immediately determine if everything is in order with the gland.
An analysis is prescribed for the following symptoms:
- Pain covering the groin, perineum, external genitalia, lower abdomen.
- Premature (in the early stages of the disease) or delayed (in the later stages) ejaculation.
- Difficulty urinating, accompanied by pain and burning.
- Frequent urge to use the toilet, especially at night. With advanced pathology, urine comes out with pus, blood, threadlike discharge.
- In some men, symptoms may be mild or absent. In this case, prostatitis is determined only by test results or by examination.
After effective treatment, the antigen index gradually normalizes - after about a month. If the level remains high after therapy, the development of prostate cancer is suspected. Therefore, after completing the course of treatment, it is imperative to re-pass a general PSA blood test. In the chronic form of prostatitis, an examination is prescribed every three months.
High protein does not mean a person has cancer. PSA viscosity increases with intense physical exertion, after bladder surgery, prostate biopsy.
Protein is measured in nanograms per milliliter. Its rate changes according to age:
- from 20 to 25 years old, the norm is 2.5 ng / ml;
- from 25 to 40 - no more than 3 ng / ml;
- from 45 to 65 - no more than 3.5 ng / ml;
- from 65 years old - should not exceed 4 ng / ml;
- in old age, protein may not be produced at all due to the cessation of functioning of the prostate.
In healthy men, the indicator is very small, since the presence of the antigen is scanty. As soon as the process of degeneration of healthy cells into malignant ones begins, its production increases. The growth of the indicator also occurs for other reasons:
- With benign prostatic hyperplasia. The overgrown tissues of the organ put pressure on healthy ones, as a result, the penetration of protein into the blood is activated.
- With infections and subsequent inflammatory processes, the barrier protective functions of the gland tissues are disrupted, and the substance also enters the bloodstream.
- So, the PSA norm for prostatitis is 5-6 ng / ml, during periods of exacerbations - up to 10 ng / ml. If the indicators exceed this figure, malignant formations are present in the body (the forecast accuracy is about 70%).
In the presence of a protein in the blood of 20 ng / ml, oncology of the lymph nodes in the prostate region is suspected, if the marker reaches a value of 50 ng / ml, the development of cancer is fully developed, at 100 ng / ml, the presence of metastases is possible. Prostatitis of the bacterial type is determined by a figure reaching up to 34 ng / ml, while the stagnant type shows 4 ng / ml, which is difficult to diagnose even by tests. The PSA index increases due to an increase in the volume of prostate tissue, the more there is, the more antigen it produces. Therefore, PSA analysis is necessary for prostate disease.
Conducting research
Urologists recommend conducting a general blood test for PSA for all men who have reached the age of 45 every year, since it is able to detect oncology even before the onset of symptoms of the disease. The study is especially necessary for those men whose immediate relatives were susceptible to this disease.
Often, using a rectal examination or ultrasound, it is impossible to determine the presence of a malignant pathology due to small changes in the tissues of the gland, while an increased PSA value shows the opposite. When establishing a diagnosis of dangerous organ diseases, medicine primarily focuses on the presence of a prostate-specific antigen in the blood.
Laboratory tests are assigned:
It is necessary for all patients of urological departments to realize the importance of timely diagnosis in case of disorders in the functioning of the prostate. Regularly passing examinations and passing tests, you can identify the disease at an early stage and successfully cure it.
Preparatory activities
Before donating blood for antigen detection, a man must follow the doctor's recommendations for preparing for the procedure so that there are no errors in the test results. The patient should consider the following points:
- No food other than juice, water, or tea should be taken for 8 hours before blood sampling.
- Avoid cycling, walking long distances 24 hours before the examination, do not exercise on an exercise bike.
- A week before taking the test, refrain from sexual intercourse, ingestion of smoked and spicy foods.
- If transrectal ultrasound of the prostate, digital rectal examination, colonoscopy or bladder catheterization were performed, then only after a week it will be possible to determine the PSA in the blood.
- After a biopsy of the gland or its massage, you should wait two weeks.
If your blood protein test result exceeds 10 ng / ml, you should reconsider your lifestyle. It is recommended to exclude the use of alcoholic beverages, smoking, take walks in the fresh air, and regularly consult a urologist. It must be remembered that the timely delivery of the analysis and the identification of an increased value of the total PSA in the blood makes it possible to determine the prostate cancer at the first stage.
Prostatitis is an insidious disease that brings a man not only physical suffering, but also psychological. The first cause of the onset of pathology is an infection, the development of which is facilitated by the position of the gland relative to the small pelvis. In this part, the pathways along which the infection can easily penetrate are concentrated: the urethra, bladder, rectum, lymphatic and blood vessels of the pelvis.
For the development of infection (with a small prostate fights on its own), further contributing factors are needed. The infection develops into prostatitis, if you do not follow these recommendations:
- Prevent hypothermia of the body. This can happen due to swimming in an ice hole - "winter swimming", with a long stay in cold transport or indoors. Do not sit on cooled concrete or stone.
- Avoid frequent constipation.
- You cannot sit for a long time. Office workers and programmers, drivers are at risk.
- Excessive activity or prolonged abstinence from sex negatively affects the body and primarily the prostate gland.
- Regularly consult a urologist so as not to get sick with urethritis or gonorrhea, which contributes to the onset of prostatitis.
- Do not suppress the body's immune system. This means not to overload, playing sports, getting enough sleep, eating regularly and of good quality, avoiding stress.
There are three types of prostatitis: acute, chronic bacterial and chronic non-bacterial. The first type is rare. It is easy to diagnose and treatable without problems. Acute prostatitis is characterized by an acute onset of the disease. It occurs due to hypothermia or ARVI.
In this case, the body temperature rises to 40 degrees. There are pains in the groin, perineum, lower abdomen, acute pain when urinating, sometimes with blood. Infection is always the root cause of prostatitis. If you do not carry out a course of treatment for this form of the disease, complications may arise: inflammation of the testicles and their appendages, prostate abscess, chronic prostatitis.
Chronic bacterial is just as rare as the acute form of prostatitis, only in 10-15% of all cases. The main reasons affecting the onset of this disease are foci of chronic infections: urinary tract, ENT organs, an untreated acute form of prostatitis. This is facilitated by frequent hypothermia of the body, irregular sexual intercourse, and work in a sitting position.
Non-bacterial prostatitis is associated with persistent chronic pain and occurs in 8 out of 10 cases. He has such an abundance of symptoms that it is difficult to establish his diagnosis: from small deviations in urination to constant severe pain.
Another difficulty lies in the lack of facts about how such a disease occurs. After therapeutic treatment, nonbacterial chronic prostatitis may develop again.
The main symptom by which this form of the disease can be diagnosed is constant persistent pain, as well as urinary disorders, aching pain in the perineum, sexual dysfunction of varying degrees. This negatively affects the quality of life of any man.
The causes of the disease are very different. They also include a violation of the barrier function of the prostate gland, caused by a lack of zinc and lysozyme in the body. Pathology usually begins with an infectious and inflammatory process, and then covers autoimmune mechanisms.