Clinical trial NCT03646643: Prospective Elimination Of Distal Coronary Sinus-Left Atrial Connections for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Trial
Official title: Prospective Elimination Of Distal Coronary Sinus-Left Atrial Connections for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation
Coronary sinus-left atrium connection
Ablation
Lead sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-08-24
Enrollment: 35
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: The PRECAF study is designed as a randomized, single-blind, small scale pilot study. Enrolled subjects who satisfy all eligibility criteria will then undergo the ablation procedure. Study randomization will be performed in a 1:1 fashion using the Urn Randomization program (https://health.uconn.edu/community-medicine/programs/health-services-research-unit/project-match/urn-randomization/) while balancing sex and AF type (paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal). The master list of study assignments will be kept by the study coordinator in a password protected and encrypted computer. After the ablation procedure, participants will remain in the study for 6 months. A 30-day event monitor will be used for the first month after ablation. Then, regular clinic visits at 6 weeks and 6 months will be arranged after ablation with 12 lead electrocardiogram check-up. In the last month, a 30-day event monitor will again be utilized to detect atrial arrhythmia recurrence.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia affecting millions of people in the US and around the world. Over the last 20 years, catheter based AF ablation has been widely adopted offering improved symptom control for many patients worldwide. However, long-term success rates remain suboptimal. Prior work indicates that distal connections between coronary sinus musculature and the left atrium exist and provide a substrate for single or multiple reentry beats as a trigger for atrial fibrillation. In this trial, the investigators will examine the efficacy of elimination of distal connection(s) between coronary sinus and left atrial musculature for suppression of recurrent atrial arrhythmias.

Detailed description: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia affecting millions of people in the US and around the world. Over the last 20 years, catheter based AF ablation has been widely adopted. However, long-term success rates fhave been reported to be as low as 50% and 20% for paroxysmal and persistent AF, respectively. To achieve permanent arrhythmia suppression, repeated ablation procedures are often needed. Prior work indicates that distal connections between coronary sinus musculature and the left atrium provide a substrate for single or multiple reentry beats as a trigger for atrial fibrillation. In this prospective randomized trial the investigators will define the efficacy of elimination of distal connections between coronary sinus and left atrial musculature for suppression of recurrent atrial arrhythmias. Patients will be randomly assigned to standard of care ablation (pulmonary vein isolation and non pulmonary vein trigger ablations) alone, or standard of care ablation augmented by distal coronary sinus to left atrial connection elimination.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation; AND Undergoing first AF ablation; AND Age ≥ 18 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous left atrial ablation; Women currently pregnant; Mental or physical inability to take part in the study; Known terminally ill patients.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Recurrence Rate of Atrial Arrhythmias
timeFrame: Time to atrial arrhythmia recurrence will be recorded as time to the first ECG or monitor that shows atrial arrhythmia recurrence between the end of the blanking period (90 days post ablation) and the end of the study (180±45 days post ablation).
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Pennsylvania
name: Saman Nazarian, M.D., Ph.D
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Kim MH, Lin J, Kreilick C, Foltz Boklage SH. Total costs and atrial fibrillation ablation success or failure in Medicare-aged patients in the United States. Adv Ther. 2010 Sep;27(9):600-12. doi: 10.1007/s12325-010-0060-3. Epub 2010 Aug 9.
citation: Chauvin M, Shah DC, Haissaguerre M, Marcellin L, Brechenmacher C. The anatomic basis of connections between the coronary sinus musculature and the left atrium in humans. Circulation. 2000 Feb 15;101(6):647-52. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.101.6.647.
citation: Huang D, Marine JE, Li JB, Zghaib T, Ipek EG, Sinha S, Spragg DD, Ashikaga H, Berger RD, Calkins H, Nazarian S. Association of Rate-Dependent Conduction Block Between Eccentric Coronary Sinus to Left Atrial Connections With Inducible Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2017 Jan;10(1):e004637. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.116.004637.
citation: Antz M, Otomo K, Arruda M, Scherlag BJ, Pitha J, Tondo C, Lazzara R, Jackman WM. Electrical conduction between the right atrium and the left atrium via the musculature of the coronary sinus. Circulation. 1998 Oct 27;98(17):1790-5. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.98.17.1790.
citation: Kuo L, Frankel DS, Lin A, Arkles J, Hyman M, Santangeli P, Marchlinski FE, Nazarian S. PRECAF Randomized Controlled Trial. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2021 Jan;14(1):e008993. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008993. Epub 2020 Dec 10.