Blood laboratory parameters of carefully selected healthy elderly people

Hematological and biochemical parameters were measured in carefully selected healthy elderly (50 males and 50 females, aged 60-97 years) and young (10 males and 10 females, aged 18-23 years) populations. Most of the parameters measured did not show any age-related variations. It means that any deviation from the present normal ranges established for healthy young subjects should be considered as pathologic in the case of elderly, too. Some parameters showed age-specific changes and hence there is a possibility that their actual normal ranges might be extended towards the upper limit (globulin, IgG, IgA, CIC, C3, BUN, AP for females), or towards the lower limit (creatinine clearance, albumin). Verification of these modifications may indicate that a lot of unnecessary investigations in the case of elderly could be avoided.