Red Blood Cell Volume, Plasma Volume and Total Blood Volume in Healthy Elderly Men and Women Aged 64 to 100

In healthy men and women aged 64 to 100 years of age, red blood cell volume was measured using 51 Cr-labeled fresh autologous red blood cells, and plasma volume was measured using Iodine 125 albumin. These measurements were correlated to body surface area BSA and body weight BW. In these elderly healthy male and female subjects, red cell volumes were 11 to 23 lower than, plasma volumes were similar to, and total blood volumes were slightly lower than values previously reported in younger subjects. The red blood cell volume showed no correlation with the peripheral venous hematocrit or the red blood cell 2,3 DPG, ATP, or P50.