Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels in Male Hypogonadism

ABSTRACT
It is known that prostate specific antigen (PSA) is strongly androgen dependent. However, little is known about the effects of gonadotropin treatments on the prostate and serum PSA levels in male hypogonadism. We have therefore determined serum PSA levels before and 3 months after treatment in 13 patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH). Plasma FSH, LH, T, PRL, testis and prostate volumes were also determined before and 3 months after treatments. Patients with IHH were treated with hCG/hMG. PSA levels were determined by kinetic enzyme immunoassay method. Total and free testostorone and PSA levels were significantly increased after gonadotropin treatment while FSH and LH levels did not change significantly. Right and left testicular volumes and the prostate volumes were also significantly increased after 3 months of gonadotropin treatment. PSA levels were correlated with prostate volume before (r = 0.74, p = 0.004) treatment but not after therapy (r = 0.35, p = NS). Our results show that serum PSA levels increase after gonadotropin treatment in male hypogonadism. However this could not be used as an index for the evaluation of the androgen action in the treatment of male hypogonadism, since PSA levels following treatments were not correlated with the prostate volume or T levels.