Impact of Liver Function on Serum Level of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in Cirrhotic Patients, Before and After Receiving Liver Transplant

Prostate cancer is considered to be the most prevalent malignancy among males. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is used for screening this malignancy. Serum levels of PSA is influenced by liver function. This study evaluated variations of serum levels of PSA amongst cirrhotic patients, before and after receiving liver transplantation.

All cirrhotic males older than 45 y/o in the waiting list of liver transplant, were enrolled in the study. After receiving a medical history and checking a total PSA (tPSA), patients who had abnormality were excluded from the study. So, 60 patients who underwent liver transplantation surgery, with a normal 3 month follow up liver function tests (LFT) participated in this study. Thereafter the tPSA level was checked again. Ultimately 30 patients performed the tPSA after a successful liver transplant.

The mean age of these 30 patient was 57, and average tPSA before liver transplant was 0.4 ng/dl (range: 0.07-1.6), and was 1.6 (range: 0.2-7.3) after transplant. Wilcoxon test revealed significant differences between pre and post-transplant PSA levels (P˂0.001, Z= -4.68).

Serum levels of PSA, rises after a successful liver transplant. In cirrhotic patients, PSA levels may not be authentic. In this study, PSA levels rose by 1.2 ng/dl post-transplant. This study revealed that tPSA may be neither reliable nor sensitive enough as a routine screening test for cirrhotic patients; and seems to do the screening there is a need for lower levels comparing to healthy people for the test.