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The Effect of Statins on PSA Tests

A PSA test measures the amount of a protein known as prostate-specific antigen in a man's blood. The higher the PSA, the greater his risk of prostate cancer. Statins, which are prescription medications used to lower blood cholesterol, can alter PSA readings.

  1. Benefits

    • According to researchers from Henry Ford Hospital, statins can lower PSA levels in a healthy man and lower his risk of prostate cancer.

    Adverse Effects

    • Statins can also lower PSA levels in men with prostate cancer and yield false-negative results that won't trigger the biopsy needed to identify cancer cells.

    Significance

    • If the PSA value is artificially lowered by the statins a man takes, a cancer could progress undetected.

    Solution

    • According to Henry Ford Hospital urologist Piyush K. Agarwal, doctors may need to order prostate biopsies at a lower PSA threshold for men who are taking statins.

    Warning

    • According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, early treatment of prostate cancer produces a five-year cure rate close to 100 percent. By lowering PSA readings in men who actually have prostate cancer, statins may delay treatment and result in a more serious condition.

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