Sammy Saab, MD, MPH

Key investigator

  • Sammy Saab, MD, MPH

Funding

  • Donors

Current research projects

  • Hepatic encephalopathy as a predictor of patient related outcomes after TIPS
  • Cardiovascular complications after liver transplantation
  • Prevalence of hepatitis C in the pediatric population
  • Telemedicine: Effectiveness and patient satisfaction
  • Strategies for screening for fatty liver in the community

Future research directions

  • Liver transplantation
  • Cirrhosis
  • Chronic hepatitis C

Recent publications - Full list on PubMed

  1. Kugelmas M, Loftus M, Owen EJ, Wadei H, Saab S. Expert perspectives for the pharmacist on facilitating and improving the use of albumin in cirrhosis. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. zxad070 https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxad070
  2. Yanny B, Alkhero M, Alani M, Stenberg D, Saharan A, Saab S. Post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy: A systematic review. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2022 Oct 30. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2022.10.009
  3. Saab S, Pham N, Wu W, Dang L, Dang A, Yum J, Shim, Wu S. Spontaneous seroclearance is associated with lower liver fibrosis in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2022 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07402-1
  4. Dawod E, Nieto J, Saab S. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy: Where do we stand? Am Journl Gastro. Nov 17, 2021 - Volume - Issue - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001551
  5. Reau N, Sulkowski MS, Thomas E, Sundaram V, Xu Q, Cheng WH, Marx SE, Hayes OA, Manthena SR, Chirikov V, Dylla DE, Brooks H, Carabino JM, Saab S. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of individuals with hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 2017-2019. Advances in Therapy. 38, 5777-5970
  6. Kullar R, Patel AP, Saab S. COVID-19 in liver transplant recipients. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2021 Aug 28; 9(4): 545-550
  7. Saab S, Zhao M, Asokan I, Yum JJ, Lee EW. History of hepatic encephalopathy is not a contraindication to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement for refractory ascites. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2021 Aug 1; 12(8):e00378
  8. Frenette CT, Levy C, Saab S. Hepatic encephalopathy-Related hospitalization in cirrhosis: Transition of care and closing the revolving door. Dig Dis Sci. 2021 June 24. doi: 10.1007/s10620-021-07075-2
  9. Flamm SL, Brown K, Wadei HM, Brown Jr RS, Kugelmas M, Samaniego-Picota M, Burra P, Poordad F, Saab S. The current management of hepatorenal syndrome-Acute kidney injury in the United States and the potential of terlipressin. Liver Tranpl. 2021 Apr 13. doi: 10.1002/lt.26072
  10. Saab S, Mehta D , Hudgens S, Grunow N, Bao Y , Brett Pinsky. Effect of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir + dasabuvir regimen on health related quality of life for patients with hepatitis C. Liver International 2018;38(8):1377-1394
  11. Saab S, Abbey B, Challita Y, Adeniyi A, Aziz A, Choi G, Durazo F, El-Kabany M, Han SH,  Busuttil RW. Impact of Sustained Viral Response with Direct Acting Agents on Glycemic Control and Renal Function in Liver Transplant Recipients. Experimental Clin Transplant 2018;16:419-424
  12. Chirikov VV, Marx SE, Manthena SR, Strezewski JP, Saab S. Development of a Comprehensive Dataset of Hepatitis C Patients and Examination of Disease Epidemiology in the United States, 2013–2016.  Adv Ther 2108;35:1087-1102
  13. Saab S, Challita. Y, Kahaleh M, Holloman D, Hathaway K, Nieto J. Case Series Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Splenic Mass Core Biopsy. Clinical Endoscopy 2018 (in press)
  14. Saab S, Ahn T, McDaniel T, Yanny B, Tong, M. Economic Comparison of Serologic and Molecular Screening Strategies for Hepatitis C Virus. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). August 2018 - Volume 14, Issue 8 (in press)
  15. Saab S, Le Long, Saggi S, Sundaram V, Tong M. Toward the Elimination of Hepatitis C in the United States. Hepatology 2018 (in press)
  16. Yanny B, Latt N, Saab S, Han S, Choi G, Kramer J, Sahota A. Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation Among Patients Treated with Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir for Hepatitis C Virus Infection. J Clin Gastroenterology 2018 (in press)
  17. Saab S, Youssef C, Chen PH, Jimenez MA, Lee AD, Saab EG, Ahn T, Choi G, Durazo F, El-Kabany M, Han SH, Grotts J, Agopian VG, Busuttil RW. The Elimination of Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2018 (in press)
  18. Aby E, Phan J. Troung E. Grotts J, Saab S. Inadequate Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening in patients with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Cirrhosis. J Clin Gastroenterol 2018 (in press)
  19. Reardon LC, DePasquale EC, Tarabay J, Cruz D, Laks H, Biniwale RM, Busuttil RW, Kaldas FM, Saab S, Venick RS, Lin JP, Nsair A, Deng MC, Ardehali A, Caderias M, Iygengar A, Aboulhosn JA. Heart and heart-liver transplantation in adults with failing Fontan physiology. Clin Transplant. 2018 (in press)
  20. Phan J, Ng V, Sheinbaum A, French S, Choi G, El Kabany M, Durazo F, Saab S, Tong M, Busuttil R, Han SH. Hyperlipidemia and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Predispose to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development Without Cirrhosis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2018 (in press)
  21. Lee EW, Saab S, Kaldas F, Fletcher S, Busuttil RW, Durazo F, McWilliams JP, DiNorcia J 3rd, Padia SA, Kee ST. Coil-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (CARTO): An Alternative Treatment Option for Refractory Hepatic Encephalopathy. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018 (in press)
  22. Aby E, Lee E, Saggi SS, Viramntes MR, Grottss JF, Agopian A, Busuttil RW, Saab S. Pre-Transplant Sarcopenia in Patients with NASH Cirrhosis Does Not Impact Re-hospitalization or Mortality. J Clin Gastroenterology 2018 (in press)
  23. Sikavi C, Najarian L, Saab S. Similar Sustained Virologic Response in Real-World and Clinical Trial Studies of Hepatitis C/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection. Dig Dis Sci 2018 (in press)
  24. Saab S, Kardashian A, Saggi S, Choi G, Agopian A, Tong MJ. Use of Hepatitis C Positive Grafts in Hepatitis C Negative Liver Transplant Recipients is Cost-Effective. Clinical Transplantation 2018 (in press)
  25. Saab S, Viramontes, MR, Chalifoux SL, Craw CJ, Ramirez SD, Bau SN, Arevalo DG, Saab EG, Saab CM, Craw CS, Estafanous A, Messiah R, Messiah W, El Kabany M. Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence in Egyptian-Americans in Southern California. J Clin Gastroenterol 2018;52:55-59
  26. Nieto J, Khaleel H, Challita Y, Jimenez M, Baron TH, Walters L, Hathaway K, Patel K, Lankarani A, Herman M,  Holloman, D, Saab S. Endoscopic Ultrasound guided Fine Needle Core Liver Biopsy Using a Novel 19 Gauge Needle with Modified One Pass One Actuation Wet Suction Technique. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2018;87:469-475
  27. Abaalkhail F, Elsiesy H, Elbeshbeshy H, Shawkat M, Yousif S, Ullah W, Alabbad S, Al-Jedai A, Ajlan A, Broering D, Saab S, Al Sebayel M, Al-Hamoudi W. Treatment of Patients With Hepatitis C Virus infection (Genotype 4) With Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir in the Liver Transplant Setting. Transplantation. 2017;101:2739-2745
  28. Younossi ZM, Park H, Dieterich D, Saab S, Ahmed A, Gordon SC. The Value of Cure Associated with Treating Treatment-naive Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1: Are the New All Oral Regimens Good Value to Society? Liver Int. 2017;37:662-668
  29. Sikavi C, Chen PH, Lee A, Saab EG, Choi G, Saab S. Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection in the Era of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents: No Longer A Difficult to Treat Population. Hepatology 2018;67:847-85.
  30. Suraweera D, Fanous C, Jimenez M, Tong MJ, Saab S. Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis ~ Systematic Review. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2018;6:119-126
  31. Corson M, Moch A, Saab S. Hepatitis C Virus Treatment in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2018;14:280-285
  32. Hanna RM, So N, Kaldas M, Hou J, Arman F, Sangalang M, Yanny B, Selamet U, Saab S, Nobakht N, Rastogi A. Case Report: Patient with Hepatitis C, p-ANCA, and Cryoglobulin Antibodies Presenting with Necrotizing Crescentic p-ANCA Glomerulonephritis. Case Rep Nephrol Dial 2018;8:161-170
  33. Younossi ZM, Gordon SC, Ahmed A, Dieterich D, Saab S, Beckerman R. Treating Medicaid Patients with Hepatitis C: Clinical and Economic Impact. A J Managed Care. 2017;23:294-299

Past GI research fellows

  • Jihane N. Benhammou, MD, PhD (2019-2020)
  • Akshay Shetty, MD (2018-2019)
  • Ani Kardashian, MD (2018-2019)
  • Beshoy T. Yanny, MD (2017-2018)
  • Kelvin Nguyen, MD (2017-18)
  • Tyralee Goo, MD (2014-15)
  • Victoria Sheen, MD (2014-15)
  • Gina Choi, MD (2013-14)
  • Justin Reynolds, MD (2012-13)
  • Vivian Ng, MD (2012-13)
  • Jennifer Tan, MD (2007-09)
  • Lenna Martyak, MD (2007-08)
  • Carmen Landaverde, MD (2007-09)
  • Andrew Kim, MD (2006-07)
  • Jose Nieto, DO (2004-06)
  • Shiobhan Weston, MD (2002-03)

About Dr. Saab

Dr. Saab received his BS, MD, and MPH degrees from UCLA. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center and a fellowship in gastroenterology/hepatology at the UCLA Center for Health Sciences. He also served as chief medical resident at USCD. Dr. Saab is board certified in gastroenterology and transplant hepatology.

He has received honorary fellowship from several medical societies including the American Gastroenterology Association (AGAF), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (FAASLD), and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Dr. Saab is active in many local, national, and international committees. He served on the Medical Advisory Committee of the Ventura County/ West Valley Chapter of TRIO (2005-2012), Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Transplantation (2006-2008), and the Educational Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2004-2007). He is currently co-chair on the National Medical Advisory Committee for the American Liver Foundation. He is on the board of directors for the American Liver Foundation and Chronic Liver Disease Foundation and the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation.

Dr. Saab served on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Nominating Committee in 2014. He previously served as member of United Network for Organ Sharing Membership and Professional Standards Committee and Performance Analysis and Improvement Subcommittee. Dr. Saab was also a member of the Minority Affairs Committee Member and Cultural Diversity for the American College of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Saab has been an investigator in numerous clinical trials, a frequently invited speaker worldwide, and leads an annual patient education seminar.

He has been named one of the “Best Doctors in America,” has received the Distinguished Achievement Award from his Division of Digestive Diseases. Dr. Saab has published over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He has authored many book chapters, editorials, abstracts, and poster presentations. Dr. Saab is on the editorial board of more than a dozen journal, and is currently the liver section editor for the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.