Effect of Low-Dose Finasteride on Serum PSA Concentrations
February 2007
in “
Journal watch
”
TLDR Low-dose finasteride lowers PSA levels, which can make prostate cancer harder to detect.
The study investigated the effect of low-dose finasteride, a type II 5α-reductase inhibitor, on serum PSA concentrations. Finasteride was known to lower PSA levels, which are used as a marker for prostate cancer. The research aimed to understand the implications of this reduction in PSA levels for prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. The findings suggested that while finasteride effectively reduced PSA levels, this could potentially complicate the interpretation of PSA tests in patients taking the drug, as it might mask the presence of prostate cancer.