ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To assess the effect of transrectal prostatic biopsy (TPB) on the concentrations of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty patients with abnormal PSA levels and/or digital rectal examination (DRE) underwent TPB. Serum PSA levels were measured before TPB and at 0.5 h, 1 week, 1 month after TPB, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum PSA levels before TPB and 0.5 h, 1 week, 1 month after TPB were (12.23 +/- 8.62), (34.90 +/- 41.53), (23.59 +/- 20.78) and (11.31 +/- 6.95) micrograms/L, respectively. The serum PSA concentration was significantly higher at 0.5 h after TPB than before (P < 0.05), and then gradually decreased. PSA levels remained higher for at least 1 week in 85% (17/20) patients(P < 0.05), then returned to the baseline at one month after TPB (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TPB can lead to a dramatic increase of PSA in serum and keep the PSA value high in one week. Then the PSA in serum decreased gradully. Serum PSA level cannot return to baseline until one month after TPB.</p>