Normal serum prostate specific antigen levels in men in Yasuj province, Islamic Republic of Iran

We assessed serum prostate specific antigen [PSA] levels in 650 men over 40 years referred to 3 Yasuj hospitals for blood cell count in 2003/2004. Men affected by prostate cancer, prostatitis or transurethral instrumentation were excluded. PSA was determined by an immunoassay technique. PSA levels in different age groups were: 40-49-year-olds-mean = 0.7 ng/dL, normal = 0-1.35 ng/dL; 50-59-year-olds-mean = 0.9 ng/dL, normal = 0-1.85 ng/dL; 60-69-year-olds-mean = 1.6 ng/dL, normal = 0-3.2 ng/dL; >/= 70-years-olds-mean = 2.3 ng/dL, normal = 0-4.4 ng/dL. Normal PSA levels in our society were lower than those in the United States, Europe and Japan