AUTOANTIBODIES TO PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN IN PATIENTS WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Purpose: We tested for a possible autoimmune process in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: Titers of IgG antibodies to prostate specific antigen (PSA) were measured in the sera of 85 BPH patients, 20 controls and 17 chronic prostatitis patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean anti-PSA titers in the BPH group were significantly higher than in the controls and prostatitis group (p < 0.0005). Accordingly, 59% of BPH patients could be defined as responders to PSA compared to none among the controls (p < 0.0005). Conclusions: Circulating autoantibodies to PSA were shown to exist in the sera of BPH patients. This observation suggests that autoimmune processes may have a role in BPH.