AGE AND FUNCTIONAL CORRELATIONS OF MARKERS OF COAGULATION AND INFLAMMATION IN THE ELDERLY - FUNCTIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF ELEVATED CROSS-LINKED FIBRIN DEGRADATION PRODUCTS (D-DIMERS)

OBJECTIVE: To measure markers of inflammation in a cohort of young and old subjects and relate these findings to the functional level of the individuals. DESIGN: For the pilot study, blood samples were obtained from 18 young (age 20-35 years) and 18 old (age 68-83 years) subjects . The main study population included community-dwelling subjects betwe en the ages of 70 and 79. The group consisted of 282 subjects with min imal physical limitations, 17 subjects from the middle third, and 16 f rom the lower third of physical function rankings. METHODS: Plasma mar kers were measured by ELISA techniques, and certain biochemical values were obtained through routine clinical tests performed by a commercia l laboratory. RESULTS: D-Dimers were higher for physically impaired su bjects in all groups, but most prominently among black females, who al so had significantly higher D-Dimer levels in every functional group. To inquire whether higher D-Dimers were associated with markers of inf lammation, we also examined the macrophage metabolite, neopterin, the neutrophil product, elastase complexed to antitrypsin (E/a), and the a lbumin globulin ratio (A/G ratio). No differences were found in neopte rin or E/a levels on the basis of gender, race, or functional status. The A/G ratio was significantly lower in functionally impaired subject s. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings demonstrate racial/ethnic an d gender differences in D-Dimers in a population of community-dwelling elderly, and suggest that factors influencing hemostasis may be parti cularly relevant to physical functional status in black women. A sampl e containing more subjects with lower physical function will be needed to establish the relationship between inflammation, altered hemostasi s, and physical function decline.