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Role of Allergen Sensitization in Older Adults

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Abstract

There is a common perception among physicians and patients that allergic diseases are not relevant in older adults. There is also recognition that innate and adaptive immune functions decline with aging. It is the function of a variety of immune cells in the form of allergic inflammation that is a hallmark of allergic diseases. In fact, there is a fairly consistent observation that measures of allergic sensitization, such as skin prick testing, specific IgE, or total IgE, decline with age. Nonetheless, the association between allergic sensitization and allergic diseases, particularly asthma and allergic rhinitis, remains robust in the older adult population. Consequently, an appropriate evaluation of allergic sensitivities is warranted and indicated in older asthma and rhinitis patients to provide optimal care for the individual and minimize any resultant morbidity and mortality.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by grant nos. 2T32AI007635 and 5P01HL088594 from the National Institutes of Health.

Disclosure

Dr. Mathur has served as a consultant for Cephalon, has received honoraria from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and is the current vice chair of the Asthma and Allergic Diseases in the Elderly Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Dr. Viswanathan reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

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  1. Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, K4/952 CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53792, USA

    Ravi K. Viswanathan & Sameer K. Mathur

  2. Department of Medicine, William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Ravi K. Viswanathan & Sameer K. Mathur

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  1. Ravi K. Viswanathan
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Correspondence to Sameer K. Mathur.

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Viswanathan, R.K., Mathur, S.K. Role of Allergen Sensitization in Older Adults. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 11, 427–433 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-011-0204-9

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