Low Voltage-Directed Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03355456 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : November 28, 2017
Last Update Posted : April 6, 2022
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A two-pronged approach to evaluate long term success of non-paroxysmal ablation when using a:
- specified low voltage-directed with pulmonary vein isolation (LD+PVI) approach compared to ,
- an approach of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Atrial Fibrillation - Symptomatic | Procedure: Radiofrequency ablation | Not Applicable |
Patients that meet both inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized by the study clinical center upon determination of low-voltage being present using 3-D mapping during index. Enrolled subjects who do not have low voltage will be followed in a registry and their data will be evaluated separately. Low-voltage patients will be randomized 1:1 into one of the following arms:
- PVI with additional total left atrial low voltage-directed ablation.
- PVI alone.
All patients will receive the best conventional medical therapy and anticoagulation use based upon HRS consensus recommendations taking into account their baseline risk factors for stroke. The need for interruption of anticoagulation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the procedure will be determined by the operator and their center guidelines.
The trial requires continuous monitoring for atrial arrhythmias. Investigators will recommend the use of implantable loop recorders (ILR) but continuous 30 day monitoring with auto-trigger function may be substituted at the 6, 9 and 12 month time points. The ILR device will be implanted under sterile conditions at the manufacture's recommended site on the precordium for arrhythmia monitoring. Implantation will occur between 1 month prior and 3 months post ablation since there will be a 3 month post ablation blanking period. If a dual chamber device is already present, implantation will not be required. iWatch, Kardia or other non-FDA approved cardiac monitoring can be used to preliminarily identify AF recurrence but AF recurrence must be separately verifiable by ECG or other FDA-certified monitoring system.
One year follow-up is planned. Post procedure care is per standard of care with follow-up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. ECG at every follow-up is performed. Download of arrhythmia data will occur at each of these visits as well. Investigators will use the typical post ablation blanking period for recurrence of atrial fibrillation of 3 months. Antiarrhythmic medications can be used during the typical "blanking period" of 3 months post procedure. But per protocol are stopped at 3 months post procedure (2 months post procedure in case of amiodarone).
Investigators will compare time freedom from first arrhythmia event, defined as a sustained episode of atrial fibrillation or atrial tachycardia. Secondary endpoints will be compared as well (see secondary end point defined). Re-initiation of an antiarrhythmic drug after 3 months will be considered a failure of primary endpoint of arrhythmia free survival. However, Anti-arrhythmic medication use after the blanking period for ventricular arrhythmias will not be included as an event. Anticoagulation is continued and monitored based on previous guidelines with use stratified by baseline stroke risk. A recording (CD) of the mapping during the procedure is to be obtained and retained for possible future analysis.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 250 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Randomized comparison of two ablation techniques:
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Masking: | Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor) |
Masking Description: | Patients will be blinded to whichever ablation arm they are randomized to. Events adjudicator will be blinded to randomization arm. |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized, Evaluation Comparing the Protocol Specified Ablation Approach to the Current Standardized Ablation Approach in the Treatment of Non-paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 14, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | September 2023 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | January 2025 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone
Radiofrequency ablation procedure to isolate pulmonary veins without other intervention performed..
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Procedure: Radiofrequency ablation
Ablation procedure to eliminate atrial fibrillation
Other Name: Pulmonary vein isolation, low-voltage ablation |
Active Comparator: PVI+Total LT Atrial low voltage ablation
PVI radiofrequency ablation along with ablation of areas of "low voltage" identified.
|
Procedure: Radiofrequency ablation
Ablation procedure to eliminate atrial fibrillation
Other Name: Pulmonary vein isolation, low-voltage ablation |
- Freedom from first arrhythmia recurrence defined as sustained symptomatic or asymptomatic atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia. [ Time Frame: Any event between the 3 month blanking period and 1 year post-ablation. ]The primary endpoint is freedom from sustained symptomatic or asymptomatic atrial arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia - AT/AF) i.e.; NO change from sinus rhythm to atrial arrhythmia between 3 -12 months after ablation. Recurrence of AF/AT excludes the 3 month blanking period. Sustained AF/AT is defined as >30 seconds as recorded on a monitoring device.
- Reduced arrhythmia burden (frequency that arrhythmia occurs). [ Time Frame: Between the 3 month blocking period and 1 year post-ablation. ]Comparison of arrhythmia burden as determined by the composite percent of atrial arrhythmia during the total time recorded on implantable monitoring devices.
- Freedom from sustained AF/AT [ Time Frame: Any event between the 3 month blocking period and 1 year post-ablation. ]Freedom from sustained AF/AT is defined as >30 seconds as recorded on a monitoring device.
- Freedom from any symptomatic AF/AT [ Time Frame: Any event between the 3 month blocking period and 1 year post-ablation. ]Freedom from any symptomatic AF/AT is defined regardless of duration as recorded on a monitoring device.
- Reduced need for antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) [ Time Frame: Any event between the 3 month blocking period and 1 year post-ablation. ]Comparison of the use of AAD therapy to control atrial arrhythmias after a successful ablation.
- Incidence of procedure related adverse events. [ Time Frame: Any event up to 1 year post-ablation. ]
The safety endpoint is the incident of procedure related adverse events comparing the 3 arms of the study. Adverse events being tracked are:
- All-cause mortality
- Atrio-esophageal fistula (through 12 mo)
- Atrial perforation
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pericarditis
- Heart Block
- Myocardial infarction
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
- Transient ischemic Attack
- Thromboembolism
- PV stenosis >70% from baseline (through 12 mo)
- Diaphragm Paralysis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pneumothorax
- Limb Paralysis
- Procedural blood loss ≥ 1000cc
- Respiratory failure
- Tertiary endpoints [ Time Frame: Any event up to 1 year post-ablation. ]For patients not randomized, data will be collected for the same endpoints as randomized patients. Additionally, data on atrial ERP and location of additional ablation that will be collected will be used in arrhythmia recurrence analyses.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects must meet all of the following criteria:
- Non-Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.
- Failed or intolerable to at least 1 one antiarrhythmic drug (AAD).
- 18-85 year of age at time of consent.
- Able and willing to comply with all protocol visit requirements.
- Signed Patient Informed Consent (ICF).
- Presence of low voltage in the left atrium on 3-D map during index catheter ablation procedure
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects will be excluded if any of the follow criteria are present:
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History of prior left-sided catheter or surgical ablation for AF or atypical atrial flutter, including MAZE or mini MAZE.
- Prior ablation for typical atrial flutter or left-sided ablation for WPW, AV node reentry tachycardia or focal ectopic atrial tachycardia may be included.
- Uncontrolled heart Failure or NYHA Class IIIb or IV heart failure.
- Ejection Fraction < 0.20.
- Active ventricular tachycardia requiring treatment with catheter ablation or anti-arrhythmic drug within the last 6 months.
- Left atrial size > 60 mm diameter on echocardiogram.
- "Long standing" persistent AF defined as > or = 1 year of continuous atrial fibrillation at the time of enrollment.
- Severe pulmonary hypertension (PAP > 70 mmHg)
- AF secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease or reversible non- cardiac cause.
- Poor candidate for general anesthesia.
- Anticipated survival < 1 year.
- MI or CABG within 3 months.
- Left atrial thrombus in pre-procedure imaging within 4 weeks of the ablation procedure.
- Any documented thromboembolic event within 6 months of the ablation procedure.
- Contraindication to anticoagulation.
- Inability to have implantable monitoring device for atrial fibrillation burden with no pre-existing cardiac device that can monitor atrial arrhythmias OR inability to wear external Holter Monitor continuously for 4 weeks.
- Significant congenital anomaly or medical condition that may affect the integrity of study data.
- Women who are pregnant - pregnancy test required if pre-menopausal or non-sterile.
- Active enrollment in another investigational study involving a drug or device.
- Inability to undergo complete voltage mapping in normal sinus rhythm - see intraprocedural protocol.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03355456
Contact: Peter Leo BS, RN | 216-778-2714 | pleo@metrohealth.org |
United States, Ohio | |
MetroHealth Medical Center | Recruiting |
Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44109 | |
Contact: Peter Leo BS, RN 216-778-2714 pleo@metrohealth.org |
Principal Investigator: | Ohad Ziv, MD | The MetroHealth System |
Documents provided by Ohad Ziv, MetroHealth Medical Center:
Responsible Party: | Ohad Ziv, Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Principal Investigator, Professor of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03355456 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRB17-00025 |
First Posted: | November 28, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 6, 2022 |
Last Verified: | March 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Persistent atrial fibrillation Medication refractory atrial fibrillation Pulmonary vein isolation procedure Low voltage directed ablation |
Atrial Fibrillation Arrhythmias, Cardiac Heart Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Pathologic Processes |