Dr. Pablo J. Costas Cáceres

Assistant Professor

Contact Info

  • University of Puerto Rico
    Medical Sciences Campus
    School of Medicine
    Gastroenterology Section
  • 787-754-0101, Ext. 2418, 5445

Education

M.D. – 1992, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

B.S. – 1988, Georgia Institute of Technology, Bachelors’ in Science in Chemical Engineering

INTERNSHIP:

University of Puerto Rico, Department of Internal Medicine – 1992-1993

RESIDENCY:

University of Puerto Rico, Department of Internal Medicine – 1993-1995

FELLOWSHIP:

University of Puerto Rico, Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Section -1995 – 1998

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine: July 2003 – present

Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Section Chief, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine: April 2001- April 2014

Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Training Program Assistant Director, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine: April 2001- April 2005

Assistant Professor, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine:  July 1998 – June 2003

Instructor, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine: June 1997 – June 1998

RESEARCH INTEREST

Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in Puerto Rican patients with diabetes mellitus 2016-2019

MELD score as a predictor of in hospital complications in patients with chronic liver disease and bleeding esophageal varices, 2004.

Prevalence of spondyloarthropathy in Puerto Rican patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 2001- 2004. ($15,000 support grant from the School of Medicine)

Serum alkaline phosphatase as a marker of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C, 2001-2002.

Etiology of liver transaminase elevation in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: does autoimmune hepatitis play a role? 2000-2001.

Pharmacological interactions between zidovudine and ribavirin in HCV-HIV co-infected patients treated with Rebetron, collaborator, 2000-present.

Ten year histologic and endoscopic outcomes in untreated patients with Helicobacter pylori   infection.  2000-2001.

Histologic features of alcoholic liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C:

Correlation with alcohol abuse.  A study to evaluate the histological characteristics of patients with hepatitis C who are classified as alcohol abusers versus non-abusers, 1997.

Alcohol abuse in patients with hepatitis C in Puerto Rico: comparison of two diagnostic tools for alcoholism. A study to compare the clinical interview with the results of a standardized test in the detection of alcohol abuse, 1996.

Alcohol abuse and response to interferon in Puerto Ricans with hepatitis C.

A study to evaluate the response rate to interferon in chronic hepatitis C among alcohol abusers and non-abusers, 1995.

A study to evaluate the effects of therapy with lansoprazole and clarithromycin and/or amoxicillin on the eradication of H. pylori and the recurrence of duodenal ulcer. TAP pharmaceuticals, Inc., Study M93-131, co-investigator 1995-6.

Inhibition of differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in vitro using IL-6 and bacterial endotoxin. NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 1991.

Immunocytochemical identification of serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system of M. rosenbergii. Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Summer 1989.

PUBLICATIONS

Vanessa E Rodriguez, Pablo Costas.  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting as Acute Icteric Hepatitis: a case report.  Boletín de la Asociación Médica de Puerto Rico julio-septiembre 2008; 100(3): 54-57.

Carlos Romero, Eduardo González, Michelle Rivera, Pablo Costas.  Elusive ileal GIST tumor causing obscure gastrointestinal bleed diagnosed with intraoperative enteroscopy.  American Journal of Gastroenterology (Supplement) September 2008; 103(S1): S306.

JJohanna Iturrino, Carlos J Romero, Carlos J Sánchez, Vanessa Velázquez, Adelaida Ortiz, Pablo Costas, Esther A Torres.  Treatment outcomes to peg-interferon and ribavirin in a government sponsored clinic for an underserved population with chronic hepatitis C.  American Journal of Gastroenterology (Supplement) September 2006.

Johanna Iturrino, Carlos J Sánchez, Vanessa Velázquez, Doris Iturrino, Adelaida Ortiz, Pablo Costas, Esther A Torres.  Outcome of Hepatitis C treatment in a Government-Sponsored Clinic for an Underserved Population.  Gastroenterology (Supplement) April 2005; 128(4): W922.

Vanessa E Rodriguez, Pablo Costas, Maria Vazquez, Hiram Ortega, Gilberto Alvarez, Consuelo Climent, Gladys Perez, Jessica Irizarry.  Prevalence of Spondyloarthropathies in Puerto Ricans with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal March 2005; 24(1):75(R-15).

Pablo Costas, Adelaida Ortiz, Vanessa Velázquez, Esther Torres.  A Government Sponsored Clinic for the Evaluation and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in an Underinsured Population in Puerto Rico.  Puerto Health Sciences Journal, Hepatitis C Supplement June 2004; 23(2):41-47.

Iván D Antunez, Pablo J Costas, Ramon de Jesús, Marina Torres, Frankie Báez.  Ascites de novo: an unusual presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis.  American Journal of Gastroenterology (Supplement) 2003; 98(9): S168(A496).

Ramon de Jesús-Aponte, Pablo Costas, Iván Antunez, Aileen Guzmán-Morales, Carmen González-Keelan.  Severe intrahepatic cholestasis: an unusual presentation of hepatic amyloidosis.  American Journal of Gastroenterology (Supplement) 2003; 98(9): S184(A550).

Pablo Costas MD, Fernando Castro MD, Esther Torres MD, FACG, Cynthia Pérez PhD.  Alcoholism and response to interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C.  The American Journal of Gastroenterology 1999; 94(9): 2655(A313).

Costas P, Castro F, Torres E, et. al.  Histologic features of alcoholic liver disease

in patients with chronic hepatitis C:  Correlation with alcohol abuse.  Gastroenterología  Endoscópica Digestiva (Supplement) 1998;17: S74(A159).

Costas P, Torres E, Allende M.  Thyrotoxic liver disease mimicking autoimmune

hepatitis in a patient with ulcerative colitis.  The American College of Gastroenterology 1997; 92(9):1701(A471).

P Costas, E Torres, M Rubio-Stipec, et. al.  Alcohol abuse in patients with hepatitis C in Puerto Rico: Comparison of two diagnostic tools for alcoholism.  The American Journal of Gastroenterology 1997; 92(9): 1644(A244).

P Costas, E Torres, M Rubio-Stipec, et. al.  Alcohol abuse in patients with hepatitis C in Puerto Rico: Comparison of two diagnostic tools for alcoholism.  Gastroenterology (supplement) 1997; 112(4): A1248.

Costas P, Castro F, Torres E, et al. Alcohol abuse and response to interferon in Puerto Ricans with chronic hepatitis C. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal 1996. 5(2): 153 (A58). Costas P, Castro F, Torres E, et. al.  Alcohol abuse and response to interferon in Puerto Ricans with chronic hepatitis C.  The American Journal of Gastroenterology 1995. 90(9): 1620(A266).