Dr. Rabih AZAR
Faculty of Medicine
Professor
(+961) 1 421 000 ext rabih.azar@usj.edu.lb
Dr. Rabih Azar is Professor of Medicine at the St. Joseph University Chief of the Cardiology Division at the Hotel Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. He received his MD degree from the St. Joseph University in Lebanon, he did his training at the University of Connecticut at the Harvard Medical School in the USA. He holds 3 American Boards in Internal Medicine, Cardiology Interventional Cardiology. He also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the John’s Hopkins University a “Maitrise des Sciences Biologiques et Médicales option Pharmacologie” from the University of Paris. He was assistant professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco prior to his return to Lebanon. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He is the author of more than 100 manuscripts textbook chapters. He was a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology he is currently member of the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. Dr. Azar main interest are ischemic heart disease and percutaneous coronary interventions. He has performed more than 10,000 cardiac catheterization procedures and more than 3,000 percutaneous coronary revascularizations. He is an expert in all kinds of ischemic heart disease conditions, such as stable angina, myocardial infarction, risk factor modification, anti-platelet therapy, as well as an expert in lipid lowering therapy, hypertension, congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
Highest degree : Medical Doctor (MD) with a Specialization Diploma: American Board Interventional Cardiology - Harvard University - USA
+ Education
| Degrees | University | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Public Health | John Hopkins | Etats-Unis | 2014 |
| American Board Interventional Cardiology | Harvard | Etats-Unis | 1999 |
| American Boards Cardiology | University of Connecticut | Etats-Unis | 1998 |
| American Boards Internal Medicine | University of Connecticut | Etats-Unis | 1995 |
| Master in Biological and Medical Sciences | Université de Paris | France | 1993 |
| Medical Doctor | Saint Joseph University of Beirut | Lebanon | 1991 |
+ Teaching outside USJ
| Experience in University Teaching Outside USJ | Country | Institution | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching of Medical students, resident and fellows | United States of America | University of California San Francisco | 01/09/1999 | 30/09/2000 |
+ Professionnal experience outside USJ
| Professional Experience | Organization | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time faculty assistant prof of Medicine | University of California San Francisco | 01/09/1999 | 30/09/2000 |
+ Expertise field
Medecine and Health
+ Publications and communications
1. Wu AHB, Abbas SA, Green S, Pearsall L, Dhakam S, Azar R, Onoroski M, Senaie A, McKay R, Waters D. Prognostic value of cardiac troponin T in unstable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol.1995 76: 970-3
2. Wu AHB, Feng YJ, Contois JH, Azar R, Waters D. Prognostic value of cardiac troponin I in patients with chest pain. (letter). Clin Chem.199642: 651-2
3. Azar RR, Waters DD. The inflammatory etiology of unstable angina. Am Heart J.1996 132: 1101-6
4. Waters DD, Azar RR. Low molecular weight heparin for unstable angina: a better mouse-trap? Circulation 1997 96: 3-5
5. Azar RR, Berns E, Seecharran B, Veronneau J, Kluger J. De novo monomorphic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia following coronary artery bypass grafting. Am J Cardiol. 1997 80: 76-78
6. Azar RR, McKay RG, Kiernan FJ, Seecharran B, Feng YJ, Fram DB, Wu AHB, Waters DD. Coronary angioplasty induces a systemic inflammatory response. Am J Cardiol. 1997 80: 1476-78
7. Azar RR, Lippman N, Kluger J. Recurrent polymorphic ventricular tachycardia following radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular junction. PACE 199821: 1837-1840
8. Azar RR, McKay RG, Thompson PD, Hirst JA, Mitchell JF, Fram DB, Waters DD, Kiernan FJ. Abciximab in primary coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction improves short medium term outcomes. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;32: 1996-2002
9. Azar RR, McKay RG, Waters DW, Giri S, Hirst JH, Mitchell JF, Fram DB, Kiernan FJ. Short Medium term outcome differences in women men after primary percutaneous transluminal mechanical revascularization for acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol 2000:85:675-679
10. Waters DD, Azar RR. Postscripts from post-CABG: the sustained benefit of more aggressive cholesterol lowering the enigma of low dose anticoagulation. Circulation 2000;102:144-146
11. Azar RR, Aoun G, Fram DB, Waters DD, Wu AHB, Kiernan FJ. Relation of C-reactive protein extent severity of coronary narrowing in patients with stable angina pectoris or abnormal exercise tests. Am J Cardiol 2000;86:205-207
12. Giri S, Mitchel JF, Hirst JA, McKay RG, Azar RR, Mennett R, Waters DD, Kiernan FJ. Synergy between intracoronary stenting and abciximab in improving angiographic and clinical outcomes of primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol 2000;86:269-274
13. Azar RR, Prpic R, Ho KLK, Kiernan FJ, Shubrooks SJ, Baim DS, Popma JJ, Kuntz RE, Cohen DJ. Impact of End-Stage Renal Disease on Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes after Coronary Stenting. Am J Cardiol 2000;86:485-489
14. Waters DD, Azar RR. Should intensive cholesterol lowering play a role in the management of acute coronary syndromes? Am J Cardiol 2000;86:35J-42J
15. Waters D, Azar RR. Modern management of the CAD patient: aggressive lipid lowering. Eur Heart J 2000;S2:L12-L16
16. Azar RR, Rinfret S, Theroux P, Stone PH, Dakshinamurthy R, Fen YG, Wu AHB, Waters DD. A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy of Anti-inflammatory Therapy with Methylprednisolone in Unstable Angina. Eur Heart J 2000;21:2026-2032
17. Azar RR, Waters DD. Clinical problems in cardiopulmonary disease: Management of a patient with angina pectoris. Chest 2001;119:287-289
18. Azar RR, Waters DD. PRINCE’s prospects: statins, inflammation and coronary risk. Am Heart J 2001;141:881-883
19. Giri S, Mitchel J, Azar RR, Kiernan FJ, Fram DB, McKay RG, Mennet R, Clive J, Hirst JA. Results of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty plus abciximab with or without stenting for acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. Am J Cardiol 2002;89:126-31
20. Fram DB, Azar RR, Ahlberg AW, Gillam LD, Mitchel JF, Kiernan FJ, Hirst JA, Mather JF, Ficaro EP, Cyr G, Waters D, Heller GV. Duration of abnormal SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging following resolution of acute ischemia: An angioplasty model. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003;41:452-9
21. Sarkis A, Badaoui G, Azar R, Sleilaty G, Bassil R, Jebara V. Gadolinium enhanced coronary angiography in patients with impaired renal function: A pilot study. Am J Cardiol 2003:974-5
22. Schwartz JG, Johnson RB, Aepfelbacher FC, Parker JA, Chen L, Azar RR, Parker RA, Danias PG. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging for detection of coronary artery disease in the distribution of first order branch vessel, using an anatomical matching of anatomical and perfusion data. Nucl Med Commun 2003;24:543-549
23. Azar RR, Klayme S, Germanos M, Kassab R, Tawm S, Aboujaoude S, Naman R. Effects of aspirin (325 mg/day) on serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein, cytokines and adhesion molecules in healthy volunteers. Am J Cardiol 2003;92:236-239
24. Aboujaoude S, Salame E, Azar R, Kassab R. T wave pacing inducing electrical storm and multiple shocs in an ICD-Recipient: A novel complication of the automatic gain control function. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2003;9: 401-3
25. Azar RR, Kadri-Maalouf Z. Commentary on « Inconclusive evidence about effects of corticosteroid therapy on mortality in acute myocardial infarction ». Evidence-based Cardiovasc Med 2003;7: 195-196
26. Azar RR, Badaoui G, Sarkis A, Kassab R, Salame E, Klayme S, Naman R, Germanos M. Effects of tirofiban and statins on markers of inflammation and platelets activation following percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol 2005; 95:236-40
27. Ghanage-Yared MH, Azar RR, Azar MA, Khalife S, Germanos-Haddad M, Neemtallah R, Halaby G. Pravastatin does not affect markers of insuline sensitivity and levels of adipocytokins in healthy patients without diabetes mellitus. Metabolism 2005;54:947-951
28. Azar RR, Kassab R, Zoghbi A, Aboujaoude S, El-Osta H, Ghorra P, Germanos M, Salame E. Effects of clopidogrel on soluble CD40 ligand and on high sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Am Heart J 2006; 151:521.e1-521.e4
29. Azar RR, Sarkis A, Salame E, Gannage-Yared MH, Amm-Azar M, Badaoui G, Germanos M, Kassab R. Percutaneous coronary intervention increases leptin and decreases adiponectin levels. Clin Endocrinology 2006; 65:712-716
30. Sarkis A, Azar R, Kadri Z, Moussa R, Aoun N. Cerebellar hematoma complicating 600 mg loading dose of clopidogrel in combination with tirofiban. Int J Cardiol 2007; 127: e170-1
31. Azar RR, Badaoui G, Sarkis A, Kassab R, Salame E, Aboujaoude S, Hamdane R, Barakat V, Germanos M. Effect of high bolus dose tirofiban on the inflammatory response following percutaneous coronary intervention. Clin Cardiol 2010; 33:E14-E19
32. Azar RR. Diffuse coronary spasm in a patient with a recent stent. JACC Cardiovasc Interv.2010; 3:459-460
33. Azar RR, Badaoui G, Sarkis A, Azar M, Aydanian H, Harb S, Achkouty G, Kassab R. Effect of ezetemibe/atorvastatin combination on oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with coronary artery disease or coronary artery disease equivalent. Am J Cardiol 2010; 106; 193-197
34. Azar M, Valentin E, Badaoui G, Sarkis A, Kassab R, Azar RR. Comparison of the effects of combination atorvastatin (40 mg) + ezetimibe (10 mg) vs. atorvastatin (40mg) alone on secretory phospholipase A2 activity in patients with stable coronary artery disease or coronary artery disease equivalent. Am J Cardiol 2011; 107:1571-1574
35. Azar RR, Kassab RY. Cardiac research in Lebanon. Eur Heart J 2011; 32:2729-30
36. Riachi M, Nasr F, Azar R. Acquired haemophilia secondary to ivabradine presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). BMJ Case Reports. 2012 Apr 4;2012. pii: bcr0120125506. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5506.
37. Waters D, Azar RR. The curse of target lesion calcifications: Still active after all these years. J Am Coll Cardiol 2014, 63:1855-6
38. Matar D, Frangieh A, Abouassi S, Bteich F, Saleh A, Salamé E, Kassab R, Azar RR. Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Lebanon. J Clin Hypertension 2015; 17:381-388
39. Azar RR, Frangieh AH, Mroué J, Bassila L, Kasty M, Hage G, Kadri Z. Acute effects of water-pipe smoking on blood pressure and heart rate: a real life trial. Inhal Toxicol 2016; 28:339-342
40. Azar RR, Kadri Z, Waters DD. Performance deficiencies in the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Quebec-“Tis but a part we see, and not a whole”. Can J Cardiol 2016; 32:1294e5-1294e7
41. Azar RR, Kadri Z, Najib A, Frangieh AH. Extra-cardiac coronary communication to the right coronary artery. Cardiol J 2017; 24:581-583
42. Azar R, Sarkis A. Innovation in Cardiology, Lebanon. Eur Heart J 2019; 40:83-84
43. Azar RR, Sarkis A. Global impact of the new European and American hypertension guidelines: A perspective from Lebanon. J Clin Hypertension 2019 May;21(5):684-686. doi: 10.1111/jch.13526
44. Azar RR, Abdelmassih T. Innovation in Heart Failure: From Pills to Devices. Eur Heart J 2020 Feb 21;41(8):906-907. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa065
45. Azar RR, Refaat M. Anti-inflammatory therapy in rheumatoid arthritis to prevent cardiovascular events. Can J Cardiol 2020 Nov;36(11):1700-1702. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2020.03.023
46. Azar RR, Sarkis A, Giannitsis E. A Practical Approach for the Use of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays in the Evaluation of Patients with Chest Pain. Am J Cardiol 2021 15;139:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.10.037
47. Azar RR, Ragy H, Kozan O, El Khuri M, Bazergani N, Marler S, Teutsch C, Ibrahim M, Lip GYH, Huisman MV. Antithrombotic Treatment Pattern in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Patients and 2-Year Follow-up Results for Dabigatran-Treated patients in the Africa/Middle-Eastern Region: Phase II Results From the GLORIA-AF Registry Program. IJC Heart and Vasculature 2021; 10;34:100763. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2021.100763
48. Allam C, Kadri Z, Azar RR. Large paradoxical embolus through a patent foramen ovale following arteriovenous graft thrombectomy. Echocardiography. 2021; 38:1847-1850. doi: 10.1111/echo.15219
49. Yazbeck MM, Jebara VA, Azar RR. String sign recovery of the left internal mammary artery bypass graft. JTCVS Tech. 2021; 12:72-74. doi: 10.1016/j.xjtc.2021.11.014
50. Souaid T, Hijazi Z, Barakett V, Sarkis A, Lindback J, Batra G, Kadri Z, Abdelmassih T, Azar RR. Association of GDF-15, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP with coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective angiography. Future Cardiol. 2022; doi: 10.2217/fca-2021-0137. Online ahead of print
51. Sab M, Chelala D, Aoun M, Azar R, Abdel Massih T. Stroke in hemodialysis patients and its association with CHA2DS2-VASC and HAS-BLED scores: a retrospective study. Clin Kidney J. 2022; 16:596-602