Serum Acid Phosphatase:The Influence of Routine Rectal Examination with Diagnostic Palpation of the Prostate

Abstract

In 61 patients (40 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate and 21 patients with normal prostate), the concentration of total acid phosphatase (t.a.p.) as well as the concentration of tartrate-inhibited acid phosphatase (tip.), was determined in serum by the method of Bessey-Lowry, and ¹/₄, 2, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after rectal examination with diagnostic palpation of the prostate. No significant difference was found in the mean values of the two patient groups, and no significant systematic change in the mean values after rectal examination. Taking each patient per se, no significant increase could be demonstrated following rectal examination with diagnostic palpation, either in t.a.p. or in tip. During the first 24 hours after rectal examination, the individual variations in concentration of both tap. and t.i.p. were of the same order of magnitude as in a control material of 10 patients who did not undergo rectal examination. It is concluded that rectal examination, with diagnostic palpation of the prostate, does not interfere with the determination of acid phosphatase in serum by the method of Bessey-Lowry.