Age Changes in Differential Leukocyte Count among Female Adults

The relationship between age and differential leukocyte count (total white cells, polymorphonuelears, lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes) was assessed in 219 women aged 45-85 years, who were examined clinically between 1954 and 1975. Excluded from the study were women who died since last examination. Cross-sectional data indicated statistically significant correlations (Spearman r) between age and numbers of lymphocytes (r = —. 14, p \u3c .05), eosinophils (r = +.28, p = .001) and monocytes (r =+ .25, p = .001), with little change in total white cell count (r = —.02, p \u3e .80). Longitudinal data on 31 women examined at age 50-59 and again at age 65-74 tended to confirm these changes. Exclusion of women with various chronic diseases and drug allergies from the original sample had little effect on the Spearman r’s. Partial correlation coefficients, controlling for age, were calculated between leukocyte counts and height, weight, and the weight/height ratio. Only the r’s between monocyte count and weight (r = —.23, p \u3c .01) and weights height (r = —.21, p \u3c .01) were statistically significant