General anesthesia does not affect the serum complexed and free prostate specific antigen levels.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Anesthesiology
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a key biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis and management.
• The liver is the presumed primary site for PSA metabolism.
• General anesthesia can alter hepatic blood flow, potentially influencing PSA levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of general anesthesia on serum total PSA, free PSA, and the free to total PSA ratio.
• To differentiate the impact of anesthesia from the effects of hospitalization on PSA levels.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 60 male patients, divided into a non-surgery (internal medicine) group and a general anesthesia (surgery) group.
• PSA measurements were taken at baseline (hospitalization/pre-operation), 24 hours post-baseline, and on day 21.
• Standardized anesthesia protocols were applied to the surgery group.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in total PSA, free PSA, or free to total PSA ratio were observed between the surgery and non-surgery groups.
• A statistically significant decrease in total PSA (13.8% in surgery, 13.1% in non-surgery) and free PSA (4.0% in surgery, 8.2% in non-surgery) was noted at 24 hours.
• The free to total PSA ratio remained unaffected at 24 hours in both groups.

Conclusions:

• General anesthesia alone does not significantly alter PSA levels.
• Hospitalization is associated with a reduction in both total and free PSA levels.
• The ratio of free to total PSA is not affected by hospitalization or anesthesia in the short term.