Background: Obesity is a public health problem which prevalence has increased worldwide and is associated with different degrees of hemodynamic alterations and structural cardiac changes. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on left atrial function using standard and advanced echocardiography in a population of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: 395 adult patients suffering from non-valvular AF, divided into three tertiles based on BMI value, carry out a cardiological examination with standard and advanced echocardiography. Results: Peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), a measure of left atrial function, is lower in the tertile with highest BMI (14.3 ± 8.2%) compared to both the first (19 ± 11.5%) and the second tertile (17.7 ± 10.6%) in a statistically significant manner (p < 0.002). Furthermore, BMI is significantly associated independent with the PALS by multilinear regression analysis, even after correction of the data for CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, E/E’ ratio and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (coefficient standardized β = −0.127, p < 0.02; Cumulative R² = 0.41, SEE = 0.8%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: BMI could be considered an additional factor in assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, in addition to the well-known CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.

Background: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors, particularly ibrutinib, have improved outcomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia but are associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. The early identification of patients with increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation remains a major challenge in cardio-oncology. Methods: This prospective pilot study included 45 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with ibrutinib. All patients underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography at baseline and after 6 months. Left atrial structure and function were assessed, with particular emphasis on speckle-tracking-derived left atrial strain parameters, including peak atrial longitudinal strain and peak atrial contraction strain. Results: At follow-up, a modest but significant increase in indexed left atrial volume was observed, while left atrial functional parameters remained stable. Patients who developed atrial fibrillation showed significantly lower baseline Peak Atrial Contraction Strain values compared with those who remained in sinus rhythm, whereas no significant differences in Peak Atrial Longitudinal Strain were detected. Conclusions: Ibrutinib-related atrial fibrillation appears to be driven primarily by pre-existing atrial vulnerability rather than early drug-induced atrial dysfunction. The baseline impairment of left atrial contractile function may represent a candidate echocardiographic marker of atrial functional vulnerability and may inform cardiovascular surveillance and monitoring strategies in patients treated with ibrutinib.

The rare hemorrhagic disorder known as acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is brought on by the spontaneous development of autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). It may be secondary to autoimmune diseases or cancers, or it may be idiopathic. Less than 10% of cases may have an infection as a secondary cause. We present the case of a 90-year-old anemic woman who was admitted to the hospital. She contracted a urinary tract infection (UTI) while in the hospital, and her urine took on a distinct purple hue. She had poor hemorrhagic manifestations and a prolonged partial thromboplastin time. After ruling out autoimmune and neoplastic causes, we diagnosed AHA as a result of a UTI caused by Enterococcus faecalis.