The response of seven prostatic fluid components to prostatic disease.

282 human prostatic fluid samples have been investigated for their pH value, zinc, and citrate concentration and their acid phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, diamine oxidase, and beta-glucuronidase activities. The results have been analysed in terms of the clinical status of the patients. Significant differences between patient categories were found with all but diamine oxidase and beta-glucuronidase. These differences were mainly found between men with apparently healthy prostates and prostatitis patients; the pH being raised and the acid phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, zinc and citrate being reduced. The diagnostic value of these parameters was evaluated, each could be used to classify correctly 90% of patients from these 2 groups. Zinc, citrate and leucine aminopeptidase showed no age relationship and were better than acid phosphatase and pH in discriminating between BPH and prostatitis. Evidence was also found for a return of normal secretory function sometime after an episode of prostatitis. Zinc and citrate are likely to be the most useful parameters for clinical evaluation.