Dr Owen Dempsey

Consultant Respiratory Physician

GMC registration: Full, No. 3589223

Consultant Respiratory Physician, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK

MB ChB, FRCP, MD, Cert Med Ed.

Research activity

  • I am primarily a clinician rather than an academic, but I have nonetheless published on a diverse range of topics.

  • I took 2 years out of my clinical training to successfully complete a MD thesis in 1998-2000, based on a new asthma therapy (leukotriene receptor antagonists) at that time. This work led to numerous publications / presentations at the Scottish, British, European and American Thoracic Societies.

  • I won the Scottish Thoracic Society annual Methven Prize in 2000 - Dempsey OJ, Wilson AM, Aziz I, Lipworth BJ. Comparative anti-inflammatory profile of preventive monotherapy with either leukotriene antagonist or low dose inhaled corticosteroid in patients with mild persistent asthma.

  • I’ve published over 60 peer reviewed publications including reviews and an editorial in the British Medical Journal.

  • Over the years, as part of my NHS practice, we’ve been involved in several multicentre Phase II-III clinical trials in the field of pulmonary fibrosis.

Publications

A recent publication, describing a case of “Feather Duvet Lung” created a lot of media interest and reached the New York Times! A young man ended up very unwell after a feather duvet was acquired and his lungs reacted badly. Fortunately he made a great recovery.

  1. Dempsey OJ. Half a billion cases of COVID-19 and counting: Are we facing a new lung fibrosis pandemic, and can we treat it? J T Coll Physicians Edin 2022; in press.

  2. Mohammed F, Melville P, Kuo RuiWen C, Bradley J, Preston G, Dempsey OJ. Nodules, Nodes & Non-functioning macrophages: a risk with Ibrutinib therapy (case report). J R Coll Physicians Edin 2022; in press.

  3. Kelly CA, Nisar M, Arthanari S, Carty S, Woodhead FA, Price-Forbes A, Middleton D, Dempsey O, Miller D, Basu N, Dawson J, Sathi N, Ahmad Y, Palmer E, Iqbal K, Janakiraman G, Koduri G, Young A.Rheumatology (Oxford). Rheumatoid arthritis related interstitial lung disease - improving outcomes over 25 years: a large multicentre UK study (original paper). 2021 Apr 6;60(4):1882-1890. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa577.

  4. Hu MK, Wood G, Dempsey OJ. Triple therapy” (elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivacaftor) skin rash in patients with cystic fibrosis (case report). Postgrad Med J. 2020 Dec 11:postgradmedj-2020-139264. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139264. Online ahead of print.

  5. Hu MK, Mathur A, Dempsey OJ. Sarcoidosis: a clinical update (clinical review) Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2020;50:322-329.

  6. Hu MK, Dempsey OJ. Smack Lung (case report) Postgrad Med J. 2020 Aug 11:postgradmedj-2020-138381.

  7. Identifying causation in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a British perspective (original paper). Barber CM, Burge PS, Feary JR, Parfrey H, Renzoni EA, Spencer LG, Walters GI, Wiggans RE; GB HP Survey Participants.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2019 Dec 3;6(1):e000469. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000469. eCollection 2019.

  8. Liu-Shiu-Cheong P, Kuo Chris, Wilkie S, Dempsey O. Feather duvet lung (case report). BMJ Case Rep 2019;12:Nov 18.

  9. Mathur A, Dempsey OJ. Electronic cigarettes: a brief update (clinical review) J R Coll Physicians Edin 2018;48:346-351.

  10. Lappin JF, Liu-Shiu-Cheong P, Bhuckory D, Lim ZH, Dempsey OJ. Referrals for chronic cough in NHS Grampian (abstract). Presented at Scottish Society of Physicians Meeting, Edinburgh, November 2018.

  11. Kuo CRW, Dempsey OJ. “Down under” (abstract). Presented at Scottish Thoracic Society, Glasgow, June 2018.

  12. Ratnapala US, Yucel-Finn A, Walbaum D, Dempsey OJ. A puzzling pneumonia in a young immunosuppressed man (case report). BMJ Case Rep 2018;doi 10.1136/bcr-2018-224827.

  13. Dempsey OJ, Forrest I, Bamlett C, Donaldson C, Sabella R, Green A, Russell AM. The development and implementation of a personal health organiser for patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): a pilot study (abstract). Presented at 2017 Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (PCRS-UK Conference), Telford, UK 29-30 September 2017. Primary Care Respiratory Medicine 2017;27:17008;doi:10.1038/jpjpcrm.2017

  14. Bryant JM, Grogono DM, Rodriguez-Rincon D, Everall I, Brown KP, Moreno P, Verma D, Hill E, Drijkoningen J, Gilligan P, Esther CR, Noone PG, Giddings O, Bell SC, Thomson R, Wainwright CE, Coulter C, Pandey S, Wood ME, Stockwell RE, Ramsay KA, Sherrard LJ, Kidd TJ, Jabbour N, Johnson GR, Knibbs LD, Morawska L, Sly PD, Jones A, Bilton D, Laurenson I, Ruddy M, Bourke S, Bowler IC, Chapman SJ, Clayton A, Cullen M, Dempsey O, Denton M, Desai M, Drew RJ, Edenborough F, Evans J, Folb J, Daniels T, Humphrey H, Isalska B, Jensen-Fangel S, Jönsson B, Jones AM, Katzenstein TL, Lillebaek T, MacGregor G, Mayell S, Millar M, Modha D, Nash EF, O'Brien C, O'Brien D, Ohri C, Pao CS, Peckham D, Perrin F, Perry A, Pressler T, Prtak L, Qvist T, Robb A, Rodgers H, Schaffer K, Shafi N, van Ingen J, Walshaw M, Watson D, West N, Whitehouse J, Haworth CS, Harris SR, Ordway D, Parkhill J, Floto RA. Emergence and spread of a human-transmissible multidrug-resistant nontuberculous mycobacterium. (original paper) Science. 2016;354:751-757.

  15. Shanks AM, Alluri R, Herriot R, Dempsey O. Misdiagnosis of common variable immune deficiency (case report). BMJ Case Rep 2014;2014.pii:bcr2013202806.

  16. Dempsey OJ, Miller D. Authors’ reply to Riddell and colleagues (letter) BMJ 2014;348:g168.

  17. Haja Mydin H, Kerr KM, Dempsey O. Calcified pulmonary chondromas in Carney’s triad (case report) Thorax 2014;69:969-70.

  18. Dempsey OJ, Miller D. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (editorial) BMJ 2013;347:f6579.

  19. Marshall AD, Dempsey OJ. Is “nitrofurantoin lung” on the increase? (letter) BMJ 2013;346:f3897.

  20. Choo WK, Denison AR, Miller DR, Dempsey OJ, Dawson DK, Broadhurst PA. Cardiac sarcoidosis or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a role for positron emission tomography (PET)? (letter) J Nucl Cardiol 2013; 20:479-80.

  21. Thomas LS, Murray IM, Bisset D, Johnston PW, Dempsey OJ. Metastatic thymoma, placenta praevia and two successful pregnancies: an obstetric challenge (case report) Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013;166:112-3.

  22. O’Dwyer JP, Al-Moyeed BA, Farrell MA, Pidgeon CN, Collins DR, Fahy A, Gibney J, Swan N, Dempsey OJ et al. Neurosarcoidosis-related intracranial haemorrhage: three new cases and a systematic review of the literature (case report). Eur J Neurol 2013;20:71-8.

  23. Baker J, McClelland D, Dempsey OJ. A persisting puzzling pneumonia in a young man (case report) BMJ 2012;344:e2690.

  24. Mukhopadhyay S, Farver CF, Vaszar LT, Dempsey OJ, Popper HH et al. Causes of pulmonary granulomas: a retrospective study of 500 cases from seven countries. (original paper) J Clin Pathol 2012;65:51-7.

  25. Verma H, Nicholson AG, Kerr KM, Dempsey OJ, Gibbs AR, Campbell I et al. Alveolar proteinosis with hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a new clinical phenotype.(case report) Respirology. 2010;15:1197-202.

  26. Dempsey OJ, Kerr KM, Remmen H, Denison AR. How to investigate a patient with suspected interstitial lung disease (review article) BMJ 2010;340:c2843

  27. Dempsey OJ, Paterson EW, Kerr KM, Denison AR. Sarcoidosis. BMJ 2009;339:b3206

  28. Sawhney SA, Chapman AD, Carney JA, Gomersall LN, Dempsey OJ. Incomplete Carney triad – a review of two cases (case report) QJM 2009;102:649-53.

  29. MacJannette R, Fiddes J, Kerr K, Dempsey O. Is bronchoscopic lung biopsy helpful in the management of patients with diffuse lung disease? (letter) Eur Respir J 2007:29:1064.

  30. Currie GP, Dempsey OJ. A rare cause of finger clubbing in a life long non-smoker (case report). Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007;63:252

  31. Dempsey OJ. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis : Past, Present and Future (invited review) Resp Med 2006;100:1871-85

  32. Dempsey OJ, Kerr KM, Gomersall L, Remen H, Currie GP. Clinical review: Update in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (review article). QJM 2006;99:643-54.

  33. Currie GP, Rossiter C, Miles SA, Lee DK, Dempsey OJ. Effects of tiotropium and other long acting bronchodilators in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (review article). Pulm Pharmacol Ther 2006;19:112-9.

  34. Currie GP, Srivastava P, Dempsey OJ, Lee DK. Therapeutic modulation of allergic airways disease with leukotriene receptor antagonists (review article). QJM. 2005;98:171-82.

  35. Currie GP, Rossiter C, Dempsey OJ, Legge JS. Pulmonary amyloid and PET scanning (case report). Respir Med 2005;99:1463-4.

  36. MacKenzie FM, Griffiths C, Dempsey O, Devereux G, Gould IM. Combination antibiotic susceptibility testing in cystic fibrosis (letter). Lancet 2005;366:1693.

  37. Dempsey OJ. Infliximab and lung disease. (e-response). BMJ 2004;329:1266.

  38. Currie GP, Lee DK, Dempsey OJ, Fowler SJ, Cowan LM, Lipworth BJ. A proof of concept study to evaluate the putative benefits of montelukast in moderate persistent asthmatics (original paper) Br J Clin Pharmacol 2003;55:609-15.

  39. Blaylock MG, Lipworth BJ, Dempsey OJ, Duncan CJ, Lee DK, Lawrie A, Douglas JG, Walsh GM. Eosinophils from patients with asthma express higher levels of the pan-leucocyte receptor CD45 and the isoform CD45RO (original paper). Clin Exp Allergy 2003;33:936-41.

  40. Dempsey OJ, McGeoch P, de Silva RN, Douglas NJ. Acquired narcolepsy in an acromegalic patient who underwent pituitary irradiation (case report). Neurology. 2003;61:537-40.

  41. Dempsey OJ, Fowler SJ, Wilson AM, Kennedy G, Lipworth BJ. Effects of adding either a leukotriene receptor antagonist or low-dose theophylline to a low or medium dose of inhaled corticosteroid in patients with persistent asthma (original paper). Chest 2002;122:151-9.

  42. Dempsey OJ, Kennedy G, Lipworth BJ. Comparative efficacy and anti-inflammatory profile of once daily therapy with leukotriene antagonist or low dose inhaled corticosteroid in patients with mild asthma (original paper). J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;109:68-74.

  43. Dempsey OJ. Need for comparative trials of theophyllines and leukotriene modifiers (letter). Asthma J 2001;6:164

  44. Dempsey OJ. Once daily preventive therapy in asthma : current position and future trends (review article). Asthma J 2001;6:16-19.

  45. Wilson AM, Dempsey OJ, Sims EJ, Lipworth BJ. Evaluation of salmeterol or montelukast as second-line therapy for asthma not controlled with inhaled corticosteroids (original paper). Chest 2001;119:1021-1026.

  46. Wilson AM, Dempsey OJ, Sims EJ, Lipworth BJ. A comparison of topical budesonide and oral montelukast in seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma (original paper). Clin Exp Allergy 2001;31:616-624.

  47. Dempsey OJ, Humphreys M, Coutie WJR, McFarlane LC, Lipworth BJ. Relative lung delivery of fluticasone propionate via large volume spacer or nebuliser in healthy volunteers (original paper) Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2001;57:637-41.

  48. Fowler SJ, Dempsey OJ, Sims EJ, Lipworth BJ. Screening for bronchial hyperresponsiveness using methacholine and adenosine monophosphate. Relationship to asthma severity and beta(2)-receptor genotype (original paper). Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;162:1318-1322.

  49. Wilson AM, Dempsey OJ, Sims EJ, Coutie WJR, Paterson MC, Lipworth BJ. Evaluation of treatment response in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis using domiciliary nasal peak inspiratory flow. (original paper) Clin Exp Allergy 2000;30:833-838

  50. Dempsey OJ, Wilson AM, Sims EJ, Mistry C, Lipworth BJ. Additive bronchoprotective effects with single doses of salmeterol and montelukast in asthmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids (original paper). Chest 2000;117:950-953.

  51. Lipworth BJ, Dempsey OJ, Aziz I. Functional antagonism with formoterol and salmeterol in asthmatic patients expressing the homozygous glycine-16 Beta 2- adrenoceptor polymorphism (original paper). Chest 2000;118:321-328.

  52. Lipworth BJ, Dempsey OJ, Aziz I, Wilson AM. Effects of adding in a leukotriene antagonist or a long acting 2-agonist in asthmatic patients possessing the glycine-16 2-adrenoceptor genotype (original paper). Am J Med 2000;109:114-121.

  53. Dempsey OJ. Leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy (review article). Post Med J 2000;76:767-73.

  54. Dempsey OJ, Lipworth BJ. Delivery of inhaled steroids: new solutions for old problems? (e-response) BMJ 2000;320:664.

  55. Dempsey OJ, Lipworth BJ. Intravenous montelukast in acute asthma – expensive aminophylline? (letter) Thorax 2000;55:808-809.

  56. Wilson AM, Dempsey OJ, Sims EJ, Lipworth BJ. Subjective and objective markers of treatment response in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (original paper). Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2000;85:111-114.

  57. Wilson AM, Orr LC, Sims EJ, Dempsey OJ, Lipworth BJ. Anti-asthmatic effects of mediator blockade versus topical corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis and asthma (original paper). Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;162:1297-1301.

  58. Wilson A, Dempsey OJ, Sims EJ, Coutie WJ, Paterson MC, Lipworth BJ. Evaluation of treatment response in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis using domiciliary nasal peak inspiratory flow (original paper). Clin Exp Allergy 2000;30:833-8.

  59. Dempsey OJ, Wilson AM, Sims EJ, Mistry C, Lipworth BJ. Additive bronchoprotective and bronchodilator effects with single doses of salmeterol and Montelukast in asthmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids (original paper). Chest 2000;117:950-3.

  60. Dempsey OJ, Wilson AM, Coutie WJ, Lipworth BJ. Evaluation of the effect of a large volume spacer on the systemic bioavailability of fluticasone propionate metered-dose inhaler (original paper). Chest 1999;116:935-40.

  61. Dempsey OJ, Godden DJ, Martin PD, Danielian PJ. Severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and pregnancy (case report). Eur Respir J 1999;13:1492-4.

  62. Wilson AM, Dempsey OJ, Coutie WJ, Sims EJ, Lipworth BJ. Importance of drug-device interaction in determining systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids (letter). Lancet 1999;353:2128.

  63. Dempsey OJ, Wilson AM, Lipworth BJ. Spacer devices increase dose of inhaled corticosteroids delivered (letter). BMJ 1999;318:1764.

  64. Dempsey OJ, Coutie WJ, Wilson AM, Williams P, Lipworth BJ. Evaluation of the buccal component of systemic absorption with inhaled fluticasone propionate (original paper). Thorax 1999;54:614-7.