Variations In Adult/Pediatric Normal Values

• Total leukocytes tend to drop between 1 and 16 years of age, from a mean of 11.4 ( in k/mm3 ) to 7.8, with the greatest differences seen between 1 and 6 years of age.
• Neutrophils tend to rise slightly in the 1-16 year range, from 3.5 to 4.4.
• Lymphocytes decrease more or less steadily in this age range, from 7.0 to 2.5.
• Monocytes change from 0.6 to 0.3 during this period.
• Hemoglobin tends to rise from 1-12 years of age, from 12.5 g/dl to over 14.0. At 12 years, the typical male/female variation is seen: male, 14.5; female 14.0. Above 18 years the difference becomes greater: male, 15.5; female 14.0.
• Hematocrit: tends to rise with age in about the same proportion as hemo-globin. From 1-12, it increases from 37% to (at 12) male, 43; female 41. Beyond 18, the male value is 47, and the female remains at 41.
• Inorganic phosphorus in children is normally at a level of 4.0 - 7.0 mg/dl. In adults it becomes a range of 2.5 - 5.0 mg/dl.
• Alkaline phosphatase levels can be expected to be up to 350 u/l for males and females in the range of 1-12 years, and for males 12-14 years can be up to 500 u/l.
• Calcium in the 2-12 year range averages only about 0.8 mg/dl higher than adult values.
• Intact PTH levels in the 2-20 year period are 9-52 pg/ml, only slightly lower than adult levels.
• Intact osteocalcin levels, however, are much higher in pediatric patients, reflecting their much greater rate of bone formation. In the 2-17 year group, the values are 2.8 - 41 ng/ml. In the adult group, the male normals are 3 - 13. In premenopausal women the normal levels are 0.4 - 8.2 ng/ml, while postmenopausal levels are 1.5 - 11.