Abstract

Prostate gland is a walnut sized organ located between the bladder and the penis. Prostate
specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant cells of the
prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. This study was
aimed at investigating the assessment of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in prostrate
disorders. Study was carried out on a total of 80 patients attending clinic and laboratory
investigations from Achunike Hospital and St. Cyprian Hospital referred to Queens medical
laboratories for prostate specific antigen assay. Subjects were divided into four groups (A, B,
C and D) their ages between 40 to 80 years. Group A is the control group. This group
comprises apparently healthy individuals who have no history of prostate disorder. Group B
consists of subjects with Prostatitis. Group C and Group D are patients with Benign prostate
hyperplasia and prostate cancer respectively. Blood samples were collected venous in a plain
sterile tube, allowed to clot and serum sample separated for PSA assay using Enzyme linked
Immunosorbent assay technique. The result of this study showed no significant (p > 0.05)
change in PSA levels in group B diagnosed with prostatitis with mean values (2.84 ± 1.27).
However, there was significant increase (P < 0.05) in PSA levels in subjects with Benign
prostate hyperplasia (BPH) (14.11 ± 4.88) .The result of PSA levels in prostate cancer patients
showed marked increase in PSA levels (19.64 ± 5.22) compared with control and also a
remarkably higher PSA values compared with B and C (p < 0.05). Therefore this research work
has shown that prostate specific antigen is elevated in both benign prostate hyperplasia and
prostate cancer. It has also identified PSA as an important marker in differentiating prostate
disorders caused by BPH and prostate cancer from disorders caused by prostatitis.