A handful of lab abnormalities occur as a normal part of aging. Elderly patients will often demonstrate the following lab abnormalities without these indicating pathology: 1. ESR increases...use the following correction factor: top normal ESR < (age + 10)/2 2. creatinine falls 3. alkaline phosphatase may be elevated 2-3 fold 4. urinalysis may show asymptomatic pyuria or bacteriuria 5. ABGs demonstrate lower PaO2s and elevated A-a gradients 6. the top normal D-dimer level elevates slightly 7. the top normal BNP level elevates slightly 8. the ECG may show a first degree AV block, poor R-wave progression, leftward axis, and PVCs
