When is IgE Allergie Senioren actually useful?

IgE testing for allergies in seniors is useful only in specific clinical scenarios. Aging leads to immune senescence, often resulting in lower total IgE levels and a blunted allergen-specific IgE response. However, true IgE-mediated allergies (e.g., allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy) can still occur or persist in older adults. Testing is appropriate when there is a clear history of allergic symptoms (e.g., seasonal symptoms, reactions after eating) and other causes have been ruled out. Interpretation is challenging: a negative specific IgE does not reliably exclude allergy, and positive results may reflect sensitization without clinical allergy. Medications (e.g., antihistamines) can also affect results. Therefore, IgE testing in seniors should be targeted and combined with specialist evaluation. Routine allergy screening with IgE is not recommended in this age group.