Farouc Jaffer MD PhD

Beyond glucose and weight loss: GLP-1 RAs reduce systemic inflammation, atherosclerosis inflammation and progression, and MACE —independent of diabetes or obesity Key findings: * Using serial intravascular NIRF-OCT inflammation and IVUS imaging, liraglutide reduced plaque inflammation and plaque progression in rabbits without obesity or diabetes; * In the MGB Biobank, GLP-1 RA use reduced blood inflammation and MACE, regardless of A1c or BMI status; * In human macrophages, three GLP-1RAs suppressed inflammatory cathepsin protease activity; --> Intravascular NIRF-OCT offers the potential for inflammation imaging and anti-inflammatory drug assessment in human CAD --> Time to investigate GLP-1RAs in all patients with CAD? Collaborative, extended effort by @MohamadBKassab1 H.Khraishah A.Thrapp @ShadyAbohashem @ATawakolMD P.Libby @GTearney1 et al.  Our sincere thanks to the editors and reviewers @ehj_ed academic.oup.com/eurheartj/arti…

#ctguidedpci is here. Standing room only at the @scai #scai2026 lunchtime session. Rewarding to work with interventional colleagues on this new pathway. @eshlof ⁦@ziadalinyc⁩ ⁦@Heart_SCCT⁩ @faroucjaffer

congratulations Pradeep on an incredible body of work and impactful research!

The American Heart Association mourns the passing of the legendary cardiologist Eugene Braunwald, M.D., widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the history of cardiovascular medicine. Over seven decades, his work reshaped the understanding and treatment of heart disease, leading many to call him the father of modern cardiology. Braunwald was a lifelong contributor to the American Heart Association, helping advance its research and scientific mission, and was honored with some of the Association’s highest honors for his lasting influence on cardiovascular care and research. His influence extended well beyond his own discoveries, as generations of Association‑supported investigators, clinicians and academic leaders were trained by Braunwald or guided by the clinical trial standards and mentorship models he helped establish. newsroom.heart.org/news/american-…

PCSK9 inhibitor treatment and outcomes in patients with atherosclerotic #cardiovascular disease but without prior ischemic events: an observational study academic.oup.com/eurheartj/arti… #cardiology #prevention @ESC_Journals @escardio @ehj_ed @TokgozogluLale

Really compelling data from @FaroucJaffer showing that GLP-1 RAs may have direct atheroprotective effects via reduced plaque inflammation, independent of metabolic benefits, which opens up exciting possibilities for cardiovascular risk reduction in a much broader patient population.

GLP-1 meds: not just for weight loss, they are heart drugs. Our study at @harvardmed shows drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy reduce plaque inflammation and cardiovascular events, independent of weight or glucose. #EHJ @mghcvrc @FaroucJaffer doi.org/10.1093/eurhea…

@DLBHATTMD thank you for your expert guidance in collaboration as well!

#cardiology #cardiovascular #cardiotwitter #cardioX

@sciqst thank you..appears to reasonable to consider RCTs in CAD/PAD patients without DM or obesity, as the next step.

It's fascinating to see the expanding applications of GLP-1 RAs beyond traditional roles. The reduction in systemic and atherosclerosis inflammation, as well as MACE outcomes, truly broadens their potential impact. How do you envision the broader use of these agents in non-diabetic patients? #Medicine #Cardiology For those curious about the scientific breakdown or further study details, check out Sci-Quest, your go-to platform for comprehensive biomedical insights: sciqst.com.

Beyond glucose and weight loss: GLP-1 RAs reduce systemic inflammation, atherosclerosis inflammation and progression, and MACE —independent of diabetes or obesity Key findings: * Using serial intravascular NIRF-OCT inflammation and IVUS imaging, liraglutide reduced plaque inflammation and plaque progression in rabbits without obesity or diabetes; * In the MGB Biobank, GLP-1 RA use reduced blood inflammation and MACE, regardless of A1c or BMI status; * In human macrophages, three GLP-1RAs suppressed inflammatory cathepsin protease activity; --> Intravascular NIRF-OCT offers the potential for inflammation imaging and anti-inflammatory drug assessment in human CAD --> Time to investigate GLP-1RAs in all patients with CAD? Collaborative, extended effort by @MohamadBKassab1 H.Khraishah A.Thrapp @ShadyAbohashem @ATawakolMD P.Libby @GTearney1 et al.  Our sincere thanks to the editors and reviewers @ehj_ed academic.oup.com/eurheartj/arti…

@maor_elad @LermanAmir @MayoClinicCV I am heartbroken to hear this news. He was an incredible human being, clinician, and scientist.

Prof. @LermanAmir , a world authority on coronary microvascular dysfunction and my mentor at @MayoClinicCV , passed away today. He shaped my thinking as a physician and scientist, and I was fortunate to also call him a close friend. His scientific and human legacy will endure.

@TanveerRab Congratulations on a wonderful career!

Retiring from Emory today after four decades of Interventional Cardiology practice. I thank my creator for his blessings and the patients who trusted me with their care. Thanks Emory for a platform to excel and have a fulfilling professional career, to all my teachers and staff

@EricSecemskyMD @DocSavageTJU @kevinjamescroce @jgranadacrf @ShariqShamimMD @DrJayMohan @timir_paul @DrMarthaGulati @CardioNerds @cardiojaydoc02 @cardioPCImom @stefan_harb @Pooh_Velagapudi @SCAI agree. appears recanalized either from atherothrombosis or scad. ccta should clarify.

@DocSavageTJU @FaroucJaffer @kevinjamescroce @jgranadacrf @ShariqShamimMD @DrJayMohan @timir_paul @DrMarthaGulati @CardioNerds @cardiojaydoc02 @cardioPCImom @stefan_harb @Pooh_Velagapudi @SCAI Coronary FMD is incredibly rare. Likely an overlap diagnosis with SCAD. Intravascular imaging needed but if this is not run of the mill athero, I’d call this chronic SCAD.

What is the pathology of this lesion? Unchanged from 5 yr ago. #CardioTwitter @mmamas1973 @SandeepNathanMD @SVRaoMD @rwyeh @drandrewsharp @Drroxmehran @mirvatalasnag @rajivxgulati @CMichaelGibson @SrihariNaiduMD @SripalBangalore @Hragy @realarainmd @sbrugaletta @djc795 📽️on RP

@DocSavageTJU @kevinjamescroce @jgranadacrf @ShariqShamimMD @EricSecemskyMD @DrJayMohan @timir_paul @DrMarthaGulati @CardioNerds @cardiojaydoc02 @cardioPCImom @stefan_harb @Pooh_Velagapudi @SCAI Love to see the RAO and if there was a CCTA, great to see the course and if there is atherosclerosis, which would favor athero-based CTO. if this a large epicardial bridge will need to evaluate retrograde options.

Healed SCAD vs recanalized CTO vs FMD vs Segmental Arterial Mediolysis vs Other? @FaroucJaffer @kevinjamescroce @jgranadacrf @ShariqShamimMD @EricSecemskyMD @DrJayMohan @timir_paul @DrMarthaGulati @CardioNerds @cardiojaydoc02 @cardioPCImom @stefan_harb @Pooh_Velagapudi @SCAI

@DrRumberger Thanks for the comment. FAI from CCTA is mentioned briefly in the review as a perivascular adipose tissue measure, not a direct plaque measure, of inflammation. Agree it is a promising predictive method.

You forgot CCTA and FAI - not yet FDA approved in USA but we'll received in Europe

@docHJ @aklfahed Thanks Hani!

@FaroucJaffer @aklfahed Congratulations one this nicely written review

Can we plaque image inflammation directly in coronary arteries of patients? PET and intravascular NIRF: Two promising approaches for CAD, CAV PCI complications, and more Cellular & molecular imaging of coronary atherosclerosis: clinical applicatiions academic.oup.com/eurheartj/arti…

Advances in imaging and hardware technologies created the opportunity for clinical visualization of molecules and cells that underpin atherosclerosis pathobiology. Read the new state of the art review! doi.org/10.1093/eurhea… #imaging #CardtoCT #OCT #cardiotwitter, @ESC_Journals, @escardio

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Prediction of First Coronary Events jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/… "These results show that CCTA data have a value beyond risk factors and the CACS in identifying individuals at high risk of coronary events."

No ShortCUTs here with @SuzanneJBaron’s LCBT presentation today at #TCT2025. Congratulations for this masterful work on this investigator initiated study showing the relative performance of cutting balloon compared to IVL in heavily calcified lesions. #MGBInterventionalCardiology