Clinical trial NCT06783868: Assessing the Neurological Outcomes After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation for Rhythm Control
Official title: Randomized Control Study to Assess the Neurological Outcomes After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation for Rhythm Control vs Routine Medication Therapy in Patients With Recent Stroke: SAVE STROKE Phase II Study
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation
Stroke
Lead sponsor: Kansas City Heart Rhythm Research Foundation
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-01-20
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and recent stroke.

Brief summary: A prospective, non-blinded, multi-center study to assess the impact of early Catheter Ablation (CA) in patients with a new diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation(AF) at the time of stroke. 100 patients will be enrolled.

Detailed description: A prospective, non-blinded, multi-center study to assess the impact of early CA in patients with a new diagnosis of AF at the time of stroke. At least 100 patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized 1:1 to receive early CA or SOC (Standard of Care). The primary outcome will be the functional neurologic outcomes, including mRS (modified Rankin Scale) and QOL(Quality of Life), recurrence, major bleeding, and mortality after stroke for each group. Secondary outcomes will be changes in cognitive assessment, success of rhythm control, recurrent hospitalizations, and cumulative cardiovascular outcomes. Participants will be followed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following the discharge date to measure these outcomes, and the study will enroll for one year. The primary endpoints will be functional recovery and enrollment.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Ages \>18 and able to provide consent.
* Presenting with an acute stroke and new-onset AF
* Modified RANKIN score (mRS) \< 6
* Must be able to undergo some form of cardiac monitoring \[implantable loop recorder (ILR), electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor\] to quantify AF burden

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients \< 18 years of age
* Unable to provide consent, including mRS = 6.
* Not able to read and write at an 8th-grade level \[to complete AFEQT and EQ-5D surveys\]
* Positive B-hCG
* Will not follow up with our practice/clinic afterward.
* Cannot tolerate OAC or AAD for any reason.
* Cannot undergo CA for any reason.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Functional neurologic outcome - Modified Rankin Scale
timeFrame: 1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months and 12 Months
measure: Recurrent Stroke
timeFrame: 12 Months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Functional neurologic outcome - Quality of Life
timeFrame: 1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months and 12 Months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Overland Park
country: United States
facility: Menorah Medical Center
state: Kansas
city: Overland Park
country: United States
facility: Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute - Roe Clinic
state: Kansas
city: Overland Park
country: United States
facility: Overland Park Regional Medical Center
state: Kansas
city: Independence
country: United States
facility: Centerpoint Medical Center Clinic
state: Missouri
city: Independence
country: United States
facility: Centerpoint Medical Center
state: Missouri
city: Kansas City
country: United States
facility: Research Medical Center Clinic
state: Missouri
city: Kansas City
country: United States
facility: Research Medical Center
state: Missouri
Study officials:
affiliation: Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute
name: Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: About Stroke. 2023
citation: What is Atrial Fibrillation.2023
citation: Roman S, Patel K, Hana D, Guice KC, Patel J, Stadnick C, Basta A, Khouzam RN. Rate versus rhythm control for atrial fibrillation: from AFFIRM to EAST-AFNET 4 - a paradigm shift. Future Cardiol. 2022 Apr;18(4):354-353. doi: 10.2217/fca-2021-0034. Epub 2022 Mar 8.
citation: Kirchhof P, Camm AJ, Goette A, Brandes A, Eckardt L, Elvan A, Fetsch T, van Gelder IC, Haase D, Haegeli LM, Hamann F, Heidbuchel H, Hindricks G, Kautzner J, Kuck KH, Mont L, Ng GA, Rekosz J, Schoen N, Schotten U, Suling A, Taggeselle J, Themistoclakis S, Vettorazzi E, Vardas P, Wegscheider K, Willems S, Crijns HJGM, Breithardt G; EAST-AFNET 4 Trial Investigators. Early Rhythm-Control Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2020 Oct 1;383(14):1305-1316. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2019422. Epub 2020 Aug 29.
citation: Bunch TJ, Crandall BG, Weiss JP, May HT, Bair TL, Osborn JS, Anderson JL, Muhlestein JB, Horne BD, Lappe DL, Day JD. Patients treated with catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation have long-term rates of death, stroke, and dementia similar to patients without atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2011 Aug;22(8):839-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2011.02035.x. Epub 2011 Mar 15.
citation: Park J, Shim J, Lee JM, Park JK, Heo J, Chang Y, Song TJ, Kim DH, Lee HA, Yu HT, Kim TH, Uhm JS, Kim YD, Nam HS, Joung B, Lee MH, Heo JH, Pak HN; RAFAS Investigators*. Risks and Benefits of Early Rhythm Control in Patients With Acute Strokes and Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Study (the RAFAS Trial). J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Feb;11(3):e023391. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.023391. Epub 2022 Jan 19.
citation: Jensen M, Suling A, Metzner A, Schnabel RB, Borof K, Goette A, Haeusler KG, Zapf A, Wegscheider K, Fabritz L, Diener HC, Thomalla G, Kirchhof P. Early rhythm-control therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with a history of stroke: a subgroup analysis of the EAST-AFNET 4 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2023 Jan;22(1):45-54. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(22)00436-7.
citation: Turagam MK, Musikantow D, Whang W, Koruth JS, Miller MA, Langan MN, Sofi A, Choudry S, Dukkipati SR, Reddy VY. Assessment of Catheter Ablation or Antiarrhythmic Drugs for First-line Therapy of Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Cardiol. 2021 Jun 1;6(6):697-705. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2021.0852.