Is the Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen Level Affected by Urethral Catheterization in Patients with Acute Urinary Retention?

Background: The reason for elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients undergoing urethral catheterization due to acute urinary retention (AUR) remains a significant and controversial issue. Objectives: To assess the serum PSA level in men with AUR and its changes after catheterization. Methods: This prospective quasi-experimental study (reviewer 1 - comment 7) was conducted on 43 patients who underwent transurethral catheterization following AUR caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Total PSA levels and free/total PSA ratios were measured before catheterization and one and three days after catheter insertion. Additionally, prostate volume and urine output after catheterization (UOAC) were recorded. Results: The mean age, prostate volume, and UOAC of the patients were 69.05 ± 9.45 years, 60.51 ± 26.35 g, and 844.04 ± 341.66 mL, respectively. The mean and median baseline total PSA levels were 12.59 ± 17.71 ng/mL and 6.30 ng/mL, respectively. These values changed to 13.73 ± 19.83 ng/mL (median = 4.80 ng/mL) and 11.57 ± 17.70 ng/mL (median = 4.40 ng/mL) after 1 and 3 days of catheterization, respectively. The changes in total PSA and free/total PSA levels during the study period were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Moreover, the PSA levels showed no statistically significant difference before, 1 day, and 3 days after catheterization in groups with total PSA ≤ 4 and total PSA > 4 (P = 0.37; 0.22, respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest an initial elevation in PSA levels in patients with AUR before urethral catheterization. Both PSA and free/total PSA ratios showed no statistically significant differences before and after urethral catheter insertion, and initial PSA levels did not affect their changes post-catheterization (reviewer 1 - comment 1).