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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Povidone Iodine Rectal Preparation at Time of Prostate Needle Biopsy is a Simple and Reproducible Means to Reduce Risk of Procedural Infection
Published on: September 21, 2015
[Effect of transrectal prostatic biopsy on serum prostate specific antigen levels]
Ze-Qiao Xu1, Li-Xin Hua, Li-Xin Qian
1Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
Objectives:
To assess the effect of transrectal prostatic biopsy (TPB) on the concentrations of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Methods:
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.
Results:
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).
Conclusions:
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.

