In the prostate, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) protein production occurs in small amounts at all times in men. Having a high level of PSA in the blood, as indicated by the PSA test, may not indicate prostate cancer. Non-cancerous conditions responsible for elevated PSA result from conditions present due to aging.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis refers to a variety of conditions that cause inflammation of the prostate. The National Institutes of Health recognizes four types of prostatitis: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.
In acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis, bacteria invades the prostate quickly or carves out a niche for long-term residence, respectively. According to Dr. Stacy J. Childs at the University of Colorado Medical Center, classes of bacteria responsible for infections include Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Proteus.
Unfortunately for men with prostatitis, the most common type also comes with the least information. Chronic prostatitis may have inflammatory or noninflammatory effects, and very little is known about what causes the immune system activity to trigger.
With asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, the patient presents with no pain or discomfort, but elevated immune activity is found in the cells of the semen or seminal fluid.
In all cases, antigens released from the foreign bacterial cells or the inflamed cells cause an increase in PSA level in the blood.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common occurrence of prostate growth as men age. The prostate becomes enlarged and presses against the urethra. The enlarged urethra also presses against the bladder, which causes more frequent urination. The inflammation of the prostate causes the release of PSA, which presents as elevated on the PSA test.
Despite the uncontrolled enlargement of the prostate, BPH itself is a non-cancerous condition.
Prostate Biopsy
If a patient has recently had a prostate biopsy, an increase in his PSA levels may naturally occur. In a biopsy, the inflammation caused by removing a sample of tissue from the prostate increases PSA levels in the blood.
A biopsy of the prostate can cause plenty of nervousness. Many labs may send results directly to the patient's home. In the case where the patient has received PSA results after a biopsy and notices elevated results, he needs to check with his doctor before drawing conclusions. While he likely initially got the biopsy due to increased PSA levels, this is not necessarily indicative of cancer, post-biopsy.
