NCT04101539Completed
Comparing Pulmonary Vein Isolation to Pulmonary Vein Isolation + OPTIMA Ablation in Patients Undergoing Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
A Randomized Trial Comparing Pulmonary Vein Isolation to Pulmonary Vein Isolation + OPTIMA Ablation in Patients Undergoing Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 9 Oct 2025
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Catheter ablation is an established cornerstone of therapy for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) who wish to avoid anti-arrhythmic drug therapy or for whom anti-arrhythmics have proven ineffective. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), in which circumferential ablation is performed around the ostia of the pulmonary vein - left atrial junctions, is the standard ablation approach internationally. Single-procedure success rates (1y, freedom from AF, off anti-arrhythmics) for patients with paroxysmal AF is roughly 70%, and even worse (roughly 50%) for patients with persistent AF. A number of strategies have been developed to improve outcomes in patients undergoing AF ablation, particularly in patients with persistent AF. Unfortunately, large prospective randomized trials (including STAR-AF II, published in NEJM in 2015) have demonstrated a failure of ancillary ablation techniques to improve AF ablation outcomes relative to PVI alone. In a collaborative effort between the Cardiology electrophysiology group and the Trayanova laboratory (Biomechanical Engineering), investigators have developed a strategy of patient-specific modeling to identify pro-arrhythmic sites in AF patients that may be amenable to ablation. In this approach, patients undergo a pre-ablation cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement, to delineate regions of healthy atrial tissue and regions of scar (this scan is clinically indicated, and performed currently in patients undergoing PVI for AF). A novel in silico modeling to determine regions supporting electrical reentry in the atrium, driving ongoing AF, has been developed by the Trayanova lab. In preliminary studies, investigators have demonstrated the ability to identify and target these regions with catheter ablation in patients undergoing PVI. Investigators would like to conduct a prospective, randomized clinical trial in patients undergoing ablation for symptomatic persistent AF. All patients enrolled would undergo standard pre-procedure imaging (LGE-MRI) prior to the day of procedure. Investigators have developed methodology termed OPTIMA (OPtimal Target Identification via Modeling of Arrhythmogenesis) to determine, based on non-invasive patient-specific anatomic and tissue data from late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI (LGE-CMR) and simulation of cardiac electrical function, personalized ablation targets for persistent AF in patients with fibrotic remodeling.. Patients would be randomized to receiving PVI only versus PVI + OPTIMA ablation at the time of ablation. Patients would then be followed in standard clinical fashion at 3m, 6m, and 12m to assess for ablation efficacy and for procedural complications. Investigators postulate a 20% improvement in freedom from AF with PVI + OPTIMA ablation form 50% to 70% (compared to PVI alone), investigators anticipate that in 1:1 randomization, a sample size of 80 patients in each arm will yield a power calculation of 80% with an alpha of 0.05. Investigators anticipate that enrollment and 1y clinical follow-up for 160 patients (total) undergoing AF ablation will require a 4y timeline.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 67 (actual)
- First submitted
- 23 Sept 2019
- Start date
- 1 Sept 2019
- Primary completion date
- 30 Sept 2025
- Lead sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Diseases
- Atrial fibrillation
- NCT number
- NCT04101539
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 67
- From 1 Sept 2019 to the primary completion date, 30 Sept 2025
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Prior surgical maze procedure.
Lab values
- Patients with Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) \< 30 mL/min should not be enrolled in the study due to the use of intravenous gadolinium as an MRI contrast agent.
Other
- Patient is not a suitable candidate for AF ablation.
- Patient is currently not on anticoagulation and has significant contraindications to initiate systemic anticoagulation.
- Pregnant women may not participate in the study because gadolinium MRI contrast is contraindicated in pregnancy.
- Patient with Body weight more than 300 lbs as they cannot undergo MRI scans.
- No evidence of Left Arial fibrosis in MRI scan as these images are not suitable for simulation.
- Inability to get MRI in sinus rhythm.
- Long standing persistent AF more than 3 years of duration.
Who the study is looking for
- Eligible patients must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment.
- Patient was referred to Johns Hopkins cardiac electrophysiology division for clinically indicated catheter ablation for persistent or long standing persistent AF either for index ablation or redo ablation.
- Patient is currently on systemic anticoagulation or has no contraindication to initiate systemic anticoagulation.
- Capable of undergoing informed consent.
- A Pre-Op cardiac MRI including LGE in sinus rhythm must be performed prior to ablation and patient should be capable of undergoing cardioversion and cardiac MRI.
- MRI scan should show evidence of left atrial scarring.
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Baltimore | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.