Left Atrial Mechanics Associates With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Light-Chain Amyloidosis Following Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) during high-dose melphalan and autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) for light-chain (AL) amyloidosis confers significant morbidity. Traditional risk factors provide limited prediction for development of paroxysmal AF during this vulnerable period. OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the association of clinical and echocardiographic parameters, including left atrial (LA) mechanics and development of AF in patients undergoing HDM/SCT therapy. METHODS: Baseline echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and electronic medical records were retrospectively assessed among patients with AL amyloidosis before HDM/SCT (n = 91). LA function analysis was performed using speckle-tracking echocardiography. RESULTS: In this study, 42 patients (46%) had cardiac involvement; in the peri-transplant period, 12 (13%) developed AF (7 with cardiac involvement). No significant differences in age, sex, cardiac biomarkers, or cardiac risk factors were seen between patients with and without development of AF; one-third of patients with AF peri-transplant had previous AF. Although LA reservoir strain was reduced in patients with development of AF, time to peak strain rate indexed to R-R interval (TPSRI) (p = 0.001) was prolonged in patients with development of AF compared with sinus rhythm patients in the total cohort but also in subgroups with and without cardiac involvement. CONCLUSIONS: TPSRI, a parameter of mechanical dispersion in the early reservoir phase of LA function, is associated with development of AF among patients undergoing HDM/SCT for AL amyloidosis. These findings require validation in larger prospective cohorts.