Risks and limits of IgE Allergie Senioren

Measuring IgE antibodies in older adults (≥65 years) carries specific risks and limitations that are often underappreciated. With aging, IgE production declines physiologically, so even established allergies may yield low or undetectable IgE levels (false negatives). At the same time, the prevalence of non-allergic food intolerances, drug reactions, and pseudo-allergic responses increases, all of which are IgE-independent and thus missed by standard allergy tests. Comorbidities such as renal insufficiency, liver disease, or autoimmune disorders can further alter baseline IgE. A positive IgE test only indicates sensitization, not necessarily clinical allergy – and this link is weaker in seniors. The risk of overdiagnosis and unnecessary dietary restrictions (e.g., avoiding dairy or nuts without proven causality) is real and can lead to malnutrition. Therefore, IgE testing in the elderly should be reserved for clear clinical suspicion and always combined with history, provocation tests, or elimination diets. The evidence base is mixed; the available literature (Allergy & Immune Biomarker domain) supports these caveats but does not provide senior-specific data from the given context.