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The prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, refers to the protein substance a man's prostate gland produces. The PSA protein is naturally present in low levels in the male bloodstream but when an increase of PSA occurs in the blood cells it can indicate risk for health complications or prostate disease. The prostate gland serves the purpose of producing fluid in semen, which nourishes sperm vitality. As men age the prostate gland is often subject to benign enlargement, depending on other factors like hormone production fluctuation. Those at risk for increased PSA levels include men over the age of 55 or those with a family history of prostate complications. Regular health exams that involve testing PSA levels can reveal risk for prostate complications or cancer.
Testing for PSA involves a blood draw and lab analysis of the protein in your bloodstream. The PSA is measured in nanograms per milliliters of blood. Although a PSA level measured at 4.0 ng/dL or below is considered normal for healthy males, the National Cancer Institute warns that it is likely for a person to have an underlying prostate condition even when PSA levels measure in the normal range.
Conditions that might allow for normal PSA levels but still cause prostate complications include prostatitis, or inflammation, and early cancer of the gland. Along with a routine prostate screening for PSA levels, men at risk are also urged to undergo additional testing. A digital rectal exam, urinalysis, or prostate biopsy can offer further details of prostate health.
The PSA screening is one means to diagnose prostate conditions but gland problems might not necessarily present with obvious symptoms initially. Care for your prostate by noting any signs of abnormality that might appear in your urinary or reproductive organs. Symptoms of underlying prostate conditions can include weakened urinary functions, a frequency or urge to urinate yet minimal result when attempted, or disturbed kidney function. Complications arising from untreated prostate conditions can lead to severe kidney or bladder damage, stone formation or tumors that enlarge and become cancerous.
Take care of your health and prostate with regular health exams but also sustain a healthy lifestyle that include a good diet and regular exercise program.
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What happens to the antibody levels when vacniated?
Vaccination introduces foreign antigen and the body responds by producing antibodies for that specific antigen. So overall levels of antibody may not considerably increase, but antibodies specific for that antigen will increase dramatically.
Why are blood cholesterol levels higher in people with blood group A and AB?
Blood Cholesterol levels are dependent on many factors of which antigen 'a' is one. Antigen 'a' is present only in blood groups A and AB. Hence, blood cholesterol levels are higher in individuals with blood groups A and AB.
What is cancer antigen 15-3?
produced by cells in the breast and increased levels can be associated with breast cancer.
What does CEA levels mean?
CEA is an acronym for carcinoembryonic antigen. Doctors will test the blood for CEA levels if they suspect cancer or to see if cancer treatment is helping.
A screening test to detect prostate cancer that measures protein levels is called?
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood screen for prostate cancer.
How much specimen is need for a prostate specific antigen blood test?
For a prostate specific antigen blood test, approximately 3 viles of blood will be necessary. A doctor may choose to check other levels at this time as well.
Increased levels of what indicate prostatic disease or cancer?
An increased level of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) may indicate the presence of disease.
What is total Prostate specific antigen?
Prostate Specific Antigen, also known as PSA, is a substance emitted by the cells that make up the prostate gland. It is found in the bloodstream in all men. The level of it in the blood is measured by a blood test to aid a doctor in determining if there is anything wrong with the prostate gland.
What hormone elevated when a patient has prostate cancer?
The biologic marker that is elevated is called the PSA (prostatic specific antigen), but this is not a hormone. However, in prostate cancer, it is desirable to lower the levels of a hormone group called androgens (including testosterone, among others).
What is high dose hook effect?
High Dose Hook Effect refers to measured levels of antigen displaying a significantly lower absorbance than the actual level present in a sample. This appears when a simultaneous ELISA assay is saturated by a very high concentration of sample antigen binding to all available sites on both the solid phase antibody as well as the detection antibody and thereby preventing the sandwich-formation. The antigen-saturated detection antibodies in solution will be washed off giving a falsely low signal. A "hook" is observed in the curve when data is plotted as a signal versus antigen concentration.
What is cancer antigen 125?
Although produced by a number of cell types, CA 125 is primarily produced by ovarian cancer cells. Eighty percent of women with ovarian cancer have increased CA 125 levels.
What do higher than normal PSA levels mean?
Elevated PSA levels can mean different things. It can point to a higher risk of cancer of the prostate or it could point to a more benign enlargement of the prostate. It is important to understand that prostate cancer can occur with normal PSA levels present. Your boyfriend should follow up with his physician to do more tests to determine what is causing the elevated PSA levels.
