SPLENIC FUNCTION IN OLD-AGE

Hyposplenism has been reported in elderly people. However, from previo us studies, it was not clear whether the observed alterations in splen ic function were a physiologic effect of advanced age itself or a cons equence of age-related diseases. As hyposplenism is believed to predis pose to infections, autoimmune phenomena and thrombosis, this question is of great clinical concern. In the present study splenic function w as assessed by counting the pitted red cells in 65 healthy subjects ag ed 50-108 years. At variance from previous studies, our study populati on consisted of free-living individuals carefully selected in order to exclude any underlying disease. The percentage of pitted red cells in 37 subjects over 70 years was significantly higher than in 28 younger subjects, although only 1 subject had a pitted red cell count indicat ing splenic hypofunction. A positive, but weak, correlation between th e percentage of pitted red cells and age was also found when consideri ng the whole population (r(s) = 0.273, p = 0.029). In conclusion, alth ough slightly reduced with advancing age, splenic function seems basic ally to be maintained in elderly people.