Utilizing Left Atrial Strain to Identify Patients at Risk for Atrial
Fibrillation on Ibrutinib
Abstract
Background: Ibrutinib is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF),
though echocardiographic predictors of AF have not been studied in this
population. We sought to determine whether left atrial (LA) strain on
transthoracic echocardiography could identify patients at risk for
developing ibrutinib-related atrial fibrillation (IRAF). Methods: We
performed a retrospective review of 66 patients who had an
echocardiogram prior to ibrutinib treatment. LA strain was measured with
TOMTEC Imaging Systems, obtaining peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS)
and peak atrial contraction strain (PACS) on 4-chamber and 2-chamber
views. Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-square analysis,
T-test, or binomial regression analysis, with a p-value < 0.05
considered statistically significant. Results: Twenty-two patients
developed IRAF (33%). Age at initiation of ibrutinib was significantly
associated with IRAF (65.1 years vs. 74.1 years, p = 0.002). Mean
ibrutinib dose was lower among patients who developed IRAF (388.2 ±
121.7 vs. 448.6 ± 88.4, p = 0.025). E/e’ was significantly higher among
patients who developed IRAF (11.5 vs. 9.3, p = 0.04). PALS was
significantly lower in patients who developed AF (30.3% vs. 36.3%, p =
0.01). On multivariate regression analysis, age, PALS and PACS were
significantly associated with IRAF. On multivariate regression analysis,
only PACS remained significantly associated with IRAF while accounting
for age. Conclusions: Age, ibrutinib dose, E/e’, and PALS on
pre-treatment echocardiogram were significantly associated with
development of IRAF. On multivariate regression analyses, age, PALS and
PACS remained significantly associated with IRAF. Impaired LA mechanics
add to the assessment of patients at risk for IRAF