Speakers
Jennifer Spencer
Stephen Gibbons
Carys Lippiatt
Trent, Northern & Yorkshire
Session Chair: Jennifer Spencer
10.15am Stephen Gibbons, Essential blood testing in the patient abusing androgenic anabolic steroids
10.45am Carys Lippiatt, Lead toxicity in children
11.15am Robert Barski, The metabolic effects of nitrous oxide abuse - “no laughing matter!”
Essential blood testing in the patient abusing androgenic anabolic steroids - Stephen Gibbons
Are we facing a steroid-emic? Can we save NHS money through better patient management? Complications associated with anabolic steroid abuse are becoming increasingly common with presentation of patients to both primary and secondary care. With no defined patient pathway we risk inappropriate referrals, inappropriate investigations and inappropriate patient management. Leeds have developed and approved a pathway detailing the essential blood tests that should be undertaken in these patients and when referral should be considered.
Lead toxicity in children - Carys Lippiatt
A few years ago a 2 year old boy died of encephalopathy caused by lead poisoning at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This was a tragic case and whilst I worked with the Consultant Paediatrician who cared for him to investigate this preventable death, it became apparent that a likely contributory factor was the lack of awareness amongst clinicians that lead poisoning was still possible in the UK today. At MedLab23 I will describe how we have raised awareness of lead poisoning, particularly in children with pica and what we have learnt in Leeds about identifying and managing lead toxicity in children following the death of this little boy.
The metabolic effects of nitrous oxide abuse - “no laughing matter!” - Robert Barski
The recreational use of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) has increased significantly in recent times with up to 3.9% of 16-24 year-olds now reported to use it. Nitrous oxide inactivates vitamin B12 and chronic abuse has adverse effects on metabolic pathways with enzymes requiring B12 as a cofactor. The widespread use has led to an increasing number of patients presenting with and requiring treatment for nitrous oxide toxicity. In the Leeds laboratory we have observed a rapidly increasing number of such patients and a need for functional assays to demonstrate B12 inactivation. In this talk I will discuss the effects of nitrous oxide abuse on metabolic pathways and the pros and cons of using serum B12, plasma total homocysteine and plasma methylmalonic acid for identifying B12 inactivation.
Consultant Biochemist
I have worked at LTHT within Specialist Laboratory Medicine for the last 6 years. My main role is to lead the specialist endocrine section where we principally focus on the measurement and interpretation of adrenal hormones. We have an excellent relationship with both the adult and paediatric endocrine teams at Leeds ensuring we develop our services to meet the changing demands of their patients.
Following a degree in Biochemistry at Cardiff University, I caught the Clinical Biochemistry bug from Dr Keith Griffiths whose offer of work experience as a MLA at Ysbyty Gwynedd and invitation to a Welsh ACB meeting inspired me to apply for a Grade A post at UCL. From London I moved up North for a Senior Clinical Scientist role in the Endocrine lab at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust where I also completed a PhD in biomarkers for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Having completed a HSST in Biochemical Genetics at Leeds and worked as a Principal Clinical Scientist at Mid Yorks Hospitals NHS Trust, I now work as a Consultant Clinical Scientist at Leeds, where I’m Clinical Lead for Specialist Laboratory Medicine and Director of the SAS-Associated Trace Elements lab. My interests are wide and varied! I do have a particular interest in lead poisoning, which is the subject of my talk at UKMedLab23.
Consultant Clinical Scientist, Lead for Biochemical Genetics and Director of Screening Laboratory at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Trained as a Clinical Scientist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust before moving to Leeds to specialise in Biochemical Genetics in 2008. I have worked at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for nearly 15 years becoming the lead for the Biochemical Genetics and Screening Laboratories in 2020. The Leeds laboratory provides Biochemical Genetics and newborn bloodspot screening services for the West Yorkshire region and my routine duties focus on clinically leading these services, and providing clinical interpretation and advice for inherited metabolic disorders. I have a passion for the specialty and have particular interest in disorders of creatine biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism.