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Case Reports
. 2015 Nov;56(11):785-7.
doi: 10.4111/kju.2015.56.11.785. Epub 2015 Nov 3.

Repeated spurious elevation of serum prostate-specific antigen values solved by chemiluminescence analysis: A possible interference by heterophilic antibodies

Arturo Domínguez  1 , Miquel Bayó  2 , Jesús Muñoz-Rodríguez  1 , Jose Antonio Bellido  1 , Jose María Abascal-Junquera  1 , Naim Hannaoui  1 , Josep Maria Banús  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Repeated spurious elevation of serum prostate-specific antigen values solved by chemiluminescence analysis: A possible interference by heterophilic antibodies

Arturo Domínguez et al. Korean J Urol. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

Heterophilic antibodies are human immunoglobulins directed against various animal antigens. They can produce false-positive results in the analysis of different tumor markers, including prostate-specific antigen. This interference can lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary tests, and overtreatment in some cases. We present herein the case of a 52-year-old man with repeated spurious elevation of prostate-specific antigen, reaching levels of 108.7 ng/mL, that were suspected to be caused by heterophilic antibodies. The interference was solved by changing the analysis technique. Real values of prostate-specific antigen were less than 1 ng/mL.

Keywords: Analysis; Diagnosis; Heterophile antibodies; Immunoassay; Prostate-specific antigen.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Evolution of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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