What Makes PSA Level High?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests measure the amount of PSA in the blood. PSA is a protein that is produced by the prostate gland cells. If you have certain medical conditions or an enlarged prostate. more PSA is produced. PSA tests, which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, are used to detect prostate cancer in men. HIgh levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood can help identify a number of conditions, although the test alone is not definitive proof of a condition (see reference 1 and 2).

Prostate Cancer

• If you have a higher level of PSA than considered normal by your lab and doctor, you may have prostate cancer. A PSA of 4 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) is considered high for men 50 and older in most cases (see references 1 and 2).

Urinary Tract Infection

• Bacteria that enter the urethra can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI). Because a UTI can cause an elevation in PSA, the doctor will often test for it with a urinalysis if cancer does not seem likely (see reference 1 and 2).

Prostate Infection

• Prostatitis, which is a prostate infection, causes inflammation of the prostate and a higher PSA level. Prostatitis is caused by bacteria or sexually transmitted diseases (see Reference 2).

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

• Benign prostatic hypertrophy, an enlarged prostate, raises the levels of prostate-specific antigen. The cause of benign prostatic hypertrophy is not yet known, but it is common for the prostate to enlarge with age (see Reference 2).

Test Limitations

• Because the test is not definitive, biopsies may be done unnecessarily to rule out cancer. Only 25 percent to 35 percent of men who have biopsies due to elevated PSA actually have prostate cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (see Reference 1).