the effect of urethral catheterization on the level of prostate-specific antigen

background: the normal prostate-specific antigen (psa) level in patients with urethral catheterization is a controversy. we designed this study to investigate the effect of nontraumatic urethral catheterization without urinary retention on serum psa. materials and methods: seventy patients scheduled for urethral catheterization before elective surgeries were randomly selected and included in the study. they were categorized into two age groups: 40–60 years (group a) and over 60 years (group b). total psa, psa density, and free/total psa were assessed before and after catheterization. results: the psa levels showed no statistically significant rise after urethral catheterization. the average of psa level was 1.01 and 1.6 in a and b groups, respectively, and changed to 1.38 and 1.80 in a and b groups 1 day after catheterization ( p > 0.05). free/total psa was 28.75 and 26 in a and b groups before catheterization and changed to 28.35 and 27.5 in a and b groups after catheterization ( p > 0.05). conclusion: nontraumatic urethral catheterization has very little effect on psa level and in patients with urethral catheter routine evaluation of psa rising should be considered.