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High frequency source ablation effective in treating atrial fibrillation


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American Heart Association Late-Breaking Clinical Trial Report LBCT 05/Abstract: 19672 (Hall E)

Study Highlights:

  • Targeted, high frequency source ablation was as safe and effective as standard treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
  • High frequency source ablation reduced major side effects in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.


Embargoed until 10:45 a.m. CT/11:45 a.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013
This release is featured in an embargoed media briefing at 8:30 a.m. CT, Tuesday, Nov. 19.
DALLAS, Nov. 19, 2013 — High frequency source ablation is as safe and effective as a more standard ablation treatment for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, according to a late-breaking clinical trial presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2013.

      Ablation is a procedure in which doctors use radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat) to destroy the heart tissue that causes the rhythm problem in order to restore your heart’s regular rhythm.

      The Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Drivers vs. Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Atrial FibRillation (RADAR-AF) researchers looked at 232 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation an irregular heartbeat in which the abnormal rhythm comes and goes on its own, or persistent atrial fibrillation in which the abnormal rhythm doesn’t return to normal on its own.

      Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients underwent either standard circumferential pulmonary vein isolation ablation, which electrically isolates the veins that bring blood to the left side of the heart, or high frequency source ablation, a more targeted approach that uses computer mapping to single out abnormal heart tissue.

      The paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients who underwent high frequency source ablation did equally well as those receiving the circumferential pulmonary vein isolation with a freedom from atrial fibrillation (69 percent) one year after treatment. They also experienced fewer major side effects with high frequency source ablation.

      There was no difference in either efficacy or safety in the two groups of persistent atrial fibrillation patients.

      “Improved computer systems can analyze the electrical activity of the heart, localize them and through ablation, eliminate those areas faster,” said Felipe Atienza, M.D., Ph.D., lead researcher of the study and senior electrophysiologist at Hospital General Universitario, Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Spain. “This offers a personalized treatment, directed to selectively eliminate the sources causing atrial fibrillation, and is beneficial and safe.”

      The researchers now plan to try high-density electrocardiograms to identify the areas in the heart causing faulty electrical signals before the intervention to better target treatment.

      “Current ablation treatments for atrial fibrillation have reached a 70 percent efficacy ceiling, and more extensive procedures are associated with a higher complication rate,” Atienza said. “More advanced computer systems and software programs will enable us to spot the harder-to-reach areas in the heart that are triggering electrical irregularities and correct these abnormalities in less invasive ways.”

      Co-authors are Jose M. Ormaetxe, M.D.; Ángel Moya, M.D.; Jesús Martínez-Alday, M.D.; Antonio Hernandez-Madrid, M.D.; Eduardo Castellanos, M.D.; Fernando Arribas, M.D.; Miguel Angel Arias, M.D.; Luis Tercedor, M.D.; Rafael Peinado, M.D.; Ángel Arenal, M.D.; Francisco Fdez-Avilés, M.D.; Jesús Almendral, M.D.;and José Jalife, M.D., Disclosures

St. Jude Medical Spain (unrestricted grant) and the National Center for Cardiovascular Research, Instituto Carlos III, Spain, funded the study.

Photos are available on the right column of this link:  http://newsroom.heart.org/news/high-frequency-source-ablation-effective-in-treating-atrial-fibrillation?preview=3b97ed71abae345f32746c1bd3947dc8

For more news from AHA Scientific Sessions 2013, follow @HeartNews #AHA13 on Twitter.

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Note: Actual presentation is 10:45 a.m.  CT/11:45 a.m. ET, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 in Hall E.

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