Society Symposium 'Right Test, Right patient, Right Response:..', Presidential Address & AGM

Right Test, Right patient, Right Response: Diagnostic biomarkers and patient pathways

Our Autumn Symposium will look at evolving and novel use of key biomarkers to improve care and patient safety in conditions encountered in, and relevant to many areas of clinical practice. We have secured four expert speakers who will cover “state of the art” aspects of kidney, heart, liver and sepsis biomarkers:

Biomarkers in CKD and AKI : muscle mass, frailty and other pitfalls 
Professor Philip Kalra, Director of Donal O’Donoghue Renal Research Centre and Consultant Nephrologist, Northern Care Alliance

This talk will cover:

• Comparison of various eGFR equations : eGFRcreatinine; eGFRcystatin; eGFRcreat-cyst versus gold standard measured GFR
• Usefulness of cystatin C in CKD evaluation
• Creatinine muscle index and frailty
• Estimation of kidney function in acute illness and the ICU

Learning points :

• Low muscle mass leads to over-estimation of GFR and is linked to frailty and poor prognosis
• Cystatin C has value in more accurate eGFR assessment in certain body types (high and low muscle mass)
• Many eGFR equations available globally; CKD-EPI 2009 performs well and includes race adjustment
   

'Point-of-care testing  (POCT) for troponin pre-hospital admission'- Title to be confirmed
Mr Phillip Jones, Urgent and Emergency Care Advanced Practitioner, North West Ambulance Service
 

Identifying liver disease early: biomarkers and beyond
Dr Varindar Athwal, Senior Lecturer and Consultant Hepatologist, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Talk synopsis:

This talk will discuss the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and the value of early detection to change disease trajectory. I will discuss the state-of-the-art in fibrosis detection, including current non-invasive tests and limitations. We will discuss how technologies such as artificial intelligence and large datasets have the potential to help identification of those with the most to benefit.

Key learning points:

• Understand the current non-invasive tests for chronic liver disease.
• Review the latest biomarkers and pathways that could improve diagnosis of liver disease.
• Discuss future technologies and innovations with the potential to change how we identify liver disease.
   

The role of circulating inflammatory biomarkers to guide antibiotic treatment decisions in sepsis 
Professor Paul Dark, Vice-Dean for Health and Care Partnerships, Professor of Critical Care Medicine and Consultant, Northern Care Alliance

Talk synopsis:

In this lecture, Professor Dark will provide an overview of the latest evidence on circulating inflammatory biomarkers from our NIHR-funded UK clinical trials aimed at determining: (1) when to start and (2) when to stop antibiotics for suspected sepsis in adults and children.
 

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS by Professor Felicity Stewart, Professor Emerita (Medical Education), University of Manchester

Full details of this CPD-approved meeting will follow soon.

All attendees will receive a CPD certificate of attendance