[Prostatic acid phosphatase measured by immunoenzyme assay]

Prostatic acid phosphatase was determined with Merck-Kanto's test kit on the cases of prostatic cancer experienced at our University Hospital from August in 1983 to February in 1985. Untreated cases were 4 stage A cases, 1 stage B case, 3 stage C cases, 3 stage D1 cases and 12 stage D2 cases. Nine cases were determined before and after hormonal treatment. From 67 controlled cases and 19 recurrent cases, 144 and 56 samples were selected, respectively. This method showed good reproducibility and even the serum stored at -80 degrees C after separation could be used for determination by addition of tartrate just before the measurement. The occurrence of abnormal values in untreated prostatic cancer cases, was 0% for stage A, 1 case for stage B, 33% for stage C and D1 and 75% for stage D2. Hormonal treatment decreased the high values of 5 cases and 1 case returned to normal. Compared to the recurrent cases, controlled cases showed a significantly larger ratio of negative, and it suggests that the test is useful for follow-up. Prostatic hypertrophy showed the increase of the value in 6% of the cases. Both prostatitis and urinary tract stone cases remained in the normal range.