MRI-Detected Brain Lesions and Cognitive Function in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Left Atrial Catheter Ablation in the Randomized AXAFA-AFNET 5 Trial
Authors: Haeusler Karl Georg , Eichner Felizitas A. , Heuschmann Peter U. , Fiebach Jochen B. , Engelhorn Tobias , Blank Benjamin , Callans David , Elvan Arif , Grimaldi Massimo , Hansen Jim , Hindricks Gerhard , Al-Khalidi Hussein R. , Mont Lluis , Nielsen Jens Cosedis , Piccini Jonathan P. , Schotten Ulrich , Themistoclakis Sakis , Vijgen Johan , Di Biase Luigi , Kirchhof Paulus 
Published: February 2022

Background:
We aimed to assess the prevalence of ischemic brain lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and their association with cognitive function 3 months after first-time ablation using continuous oral anticoagulation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods:
We performed a prespecified analysis of the AXAFA-AFNET 5 trial (Anticoagulation Using the Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor Apixaban During Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation: Comparison to Vitamin K Antagonist Therapy), which randomized 674 patients with AF 1:1 to uninterrupted apixaban or vitamin K antagonist therapy before first-time ablation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and high-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging was obtained within 3 to 48 hours after AF ablation in all eligible patients enrolled in 25 study centers in Europe and the United States. Patients underwent cognitive assessment 3 to 6 weeks before ablation and 3 months after ablation using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Results:

In 84 (26.1%) of 321 patients with analyzable magnetic resonance imaging, high-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging detected at least 1 acute brain lesion, including 44 (27.2%) patients treated with apixaban and 40 (24.8%) patients treated with vitamin K antagonist (
P
=0.675). Median MoCA score was similar in patients with or without acute brain lesions at 3 months after ablation (28 [interquartile range (IQR), 26–29] versus 28 [IQR, 26–29];
P
=0.948). Cerebral chronic white matter damage (defined as Wahlund score ≥4 points) detected by fluid-attenuated inversion recovery was present in 130 (40.5%) patients and associated with lower median MoCA scores before ablation (27 [IQR, 24–28] versus 27 [IQR, 25–29];
P
=0.026) and 3 months after ablation (27 [IQR, 25–29] versus 28 [IQR, 26–29];
P
=0.011). This association was no longer significant when adjusted for age and sex. Age was associated with lower MoCA scores before ablation (relative risk, 1.02 per 10 years [95% CI, 1.01–1.03]) and 3 months after ablation (relative risk, 1.02 per 10 years [95% CI, 1.01–1.03]).

Conclusions:
Chronic white matter damage as well as acute ischemic lesions detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging were found frequently after first-time ablation for paroxysmal AF using uninterrupted oral anticoagulation. Acute ischemic brain lesions detected by high-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging were not associated with cognitive function at 3 months after ablation. Lower MoCA scores before and after ablation were associated only with older age, highlighting the safety of AF ablation on uninterrupted oral anticoagulation.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02227550.