From the Guidelines
Pitavastatin does not affect PSA test results, as there is no established clinical evidence showing a direct impact of pitavastatin on PSA measurements used for prostate cancer screening. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, published in 2024, discusses the optimal use of lipid-lowering therapy, including pitavastatin, but does not mention any effect on PSA levels. Unlike some medications such as finasteride or dutasteride, which can lower PSA levels by approximately 50% 2, pitavastatin does not have a known mechanism that would interfere with PSA production or measurement.
Some key points to consider when interpreting PSA test results include:
- Prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, urethral or prostatic trauma, and prostate cancer can all be associated with elevated serum PSA levels 2
- Certain medications, such as finasteride and dutasteride, can lower PSA levels, but pitavastatin is not one of them
- Laboratory variability can range from 20-25% depending on the type of standardization used, and it is necessary to use the same assay for longitudinal monitoring 2
If you're taking pitavastatin and need to undergo PSA testing, you typically don't need to discontinue the medication before the test. However, it's always important to inform your healthcare provider about all medications you're taking, including pitavastatin, when undergoing any laboratory testing. This ensures that your doctor can properly interpret your test results in the context of your complete medication profile. If you notice any unusual changes in your PSA levels while taking pitavastatin, discuss these with your healthcare provider, as they are more likely related to prostate changes rather than medication effects.
From the Research
Effect of Pitavastatin on PSA Test
- There are no direct studies on the effect of pitavastatin on PSA test levels in the provided evidence.
- However, studies on other statins, such as atorvastatin, have shown that statin use can be associated with a reduced risk of advanced prostate cancer and a decrease in PSA levels 3, 4.
- A study on atorvastatin found that short-term treatment with atorvastatin can reduce serum PSA levels, and this reduction is more likely to be due to a direct effect rather than a reduction in serum cholesterol levels 3.
- Another study found that PSA levels declined by a statistically significant extent after initiation of statin treatment, with the reduction being most pronounced among men with the largest LDL declines and those with PSA levels that would make them candidates for prostate biopsy 4.
- It is unclear whether pitavastatin would have a similar effect on PSA levels as other statins, as its pharmacokinetics and mechanism of action may differ 5, 6.