Saab Laboratory

Key investigator

• Sammy Saab, MD, MPH

Funding

• Donors

Current research projects

• fHepatic 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

Key publications (partial list including 2018-2020 only)

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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)
5. 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)
6. Saab S, Le Long, Saggi S, Sundaram V, Tong M. Toward the Elimination of Hepatitis C in the United States. Hepatology 2018 (in press)
7. 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)
8. 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)
9. 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)
10. 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)
11. 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)
12. 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)
13. 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)
14. 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)
15. 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)
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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.
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
25. Nguyen K, Jimenez M, Moghadam N, Wu C, Farid A, Grotts J, Elashoff D, Choi G, Durazo FA, El-Kabany MM, Han SHB, Saab S. Decrease of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Patients with Cirrhosis Treated with Direct Acting Agents. Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology 2017;5:43-49
26. Patel AA, Walling AM, May FP, Saab S, Wenger N. Palliative Care and Healthcare Utilization for Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease at the End of Life. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017
27. Lin TY, Shekar AO, Li N, Yeh MW, Saab S, Wilson M, Leung AM Incidence of Abnormal Liver Biochemical Tests in Hyperthyroidism Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017; 86(5):755-759.
28. 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 2017
29. Ahmed A, Gonzalez SA, Cholankeril G, Perumpail RB, McGinnis J, Saab S, Beckerman R, Younossi ZM. Treatment of Patients Waitlisted for Liver Transplant with an All-Oral DAAs is a Cost-Effective Treatment Strategy in the United States. Hepatology 2017;66(1):46-56
30. Younossi Z, Gordon SC, Ahmed A, Dieterich D, Saab S, Beckerman R. Treating Medicaid patients with hepatitis C: clinical and economic impact. Am J Manag Care. 2017;23:107-112
31. Saab S, Rheem J, Jimenez MA, Fong TM, Mai MM, Kachardoorian CA, Esmilzadeh NL, Bau SN, Kang S, Ramirez SD, Grotts, Choi G, Durazo FA, El-Kabany MM, Han SHB, Busuttil RW. Effectiveness of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir with/without Ribavirin in Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatitis C. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2017;5(2):101-108
32. Saab S, Phan J, Jimenez M, Grotts J, Walters L, Hathaway K, Patel K, Lankarani A, Herman M, Holloman D, Nieto J. Endoscopic Ultrasound Liver Biopsies Accurately Predict the Presence of Fibrosis in Patients with Fatty Liver. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2017
33. Elrazek A, Saab S, Foad M, Elgohary EA, Sallam MM, Nawara A, Ismael A, et al. Ongoing transmission of HCV: Should cesarean section be justified? Data mining discovery. J Transl Int Med. 2017;5:27-33
34. Stepanova M, Clement S, Wong R, Saab S, Ahmed A, Younossi ZM. Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Liver Disease are at Increased Risk for Overall Mortality: A Population Study from the United States. Clinical Diabetes 2017;35: 79-83
35. Aby E, Jimenez MA, Grotts JF, Agopian V French SW, Busuttil RW, Saab S. Diminishing Role of Liver Biopsy for Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2017
36. Tavakoli H, Robinson A, Liu B, Bhuket T, Younossi Z, Saab S, Ahmed A, Wong RJ. Cirrhosis Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Are Significantly Less Likely to Receive Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Dig Dis Sci. 2017
37. 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. 2017
38. Castrejón M, Chew KW, Javanbakht M, Humphries R, Saab S, Klausner JD. Implementation of a Large System-Wide Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Linkage to Care Program for Baby Boomers. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2017;4(3):ofx109. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofx109

Key Publications (partial listing only 2018-2020)

1. 1. 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
2. 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
3. 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;67:847-857
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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 G lomerulonephritis. Case Rep Nephrol Dial 2018;8:161-170
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. Yanny B, Saab S, Durazo F, Latt N, Mitry A, Mikhail MM, Hanna RM, Aziz A, Sahota A. Eight-Week Hepatitis C Treatment with New Direct Acting Antivirals Has a Better Safety Profile While Being Effective in the Treatment-Naïve Geriatric Population Without Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C Virus-RNA < 6 Million IU/mL. Dig Dis Sci. 2018;63:3480-3486
11. Saab S, Saggi SS, Akbar M, Choi G. Presumed Consent: A Potential Tool for Countries Experiencing an Organ Donation Crisis. Dig Dis Sci. 2018; 64:1346-1355. With accompanying editorial
12. Le LB, Rahal HK, Viramontes MR, Meneses KG, Dong TS, Saab S. Patient Satisfaction and Health Care Utilization using Telemedicine in Liver Transplant Recipients. Dig Dis Sci. 2018;64:1150-1157
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;51:600-601
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). 2018;14:459-462
15. 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;52:908-912
16. 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;53:309-313
17. 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;113:1187-1196
18. 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;32:e13383
19. Saab S, Le Long, Saggi S, Sundaram V, Tong M. Towards the Elimination of Hepatitis C in the United States. Hepatology 2018; 67:2449-2459
20. 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;28;6:247-250
21. 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;32(8):e13329
22. Sue MJ, Lee EW, Saab S, McWilliams JP, Durazo F, El-Kabany M, Kaldas F, Busuttil RW, Kee ST. Transjugular Liver Biopsy: Safe Even in Patients With Severe Coagulopathies and Multiple Biopsies. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2019;10(7):e00063
23. 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;53:142-146
24. 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;53:680-685
25. Saab S, Song D. Challita YP, Zhou TX, Saab EG, Viramontes MR, Choi G, Durazo FA, Han SB, El Kabany MM, Jackson NJ, Busuttil RW. Long-term Outcomes with Oral Therapy in Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatitis B. Clin Transplant 2019 (in press)
26. Benitez TM, Fernando SM, Amini C, Saab S. Geographically Focused Collocated Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment in Los Angeles’s Skid Row. Dig Dis Sci 2020 (in press)
27. Fong T, Wu C, Wu S, Saab S. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels Predict Spontaneous Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seroconversion in Inactive Hepatitis B Carriers. J Clin Gastroenterology 2020 (in press)
28. Lee EW, Lee AE, Saab S, Kee ST. Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (RTO): A New Treatment Option for Hepatic Encephalopathy. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 (in press)
29. Hirode G, Saab S, Wong RJ. Trends in the Burden of Chronic Liver Disease Among Hospitalized US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(4):e201997
30. Nieto J, Dawod E, Deshmukh A, Penn E, Adler D, Saab S. EUS-Guided Fine Needle Core Liver Biopsy with a Modified 1-Pass 1-Actuation Wet Suction Technique: Comparing Two Types of EUS Core Needles. Endoscopy International Open. 2020 (in press)
31. Hameed B, Veracruz N, Saab S, Wong R. The Association Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Extra-Hepatic Cancers. J Cli Exp Hepatol 2020 (in press)
32. Le Long, Kullar R, Saleh HM, Saab S. Preferred Noninvasive Testing for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 (in press)
33. Yanny B, Viramontes M, Najarian LM, Challita Y, Saab S. Ethnic Perception of Obesity in Fatty Liver Disease. Digestive Medicine Research 2020 (in press)
34. Rahal H; Boutros S, Farhat M; Kullar R, Rahal K; Saab S. Estimating Pediatric Hepatitis C Prevalence in the United States. J Viral Hepatitis 2020 (in press)
35. Sun N, Lee YT, Zhang R, Kao R, Teng PC, Yang Y, Yang P, Wang J, Smalley M, Chen PJ, Kim M, Chou SJ, Bao L, Wang J, Zhang X, Qi D, Palomique J, Nissen N, Han SH, Sadeghi, Finn SR, Saab S, Busuttil R, Markovic D, Elashoff D, Yu HH, Li H, Heaney A, Posadas E, You S, Yang JD, Pei R, Agopian V, Tseng VR, and Zhu Y. Purification of HCC-specific extracellular vesicles on nanosubstrates for early HCC detection by digital scoring. Nature Communications 2020 (in press).

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)

Current GI research fellows

• Coming soon

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.