Cardiac Resynchronization in Atrial Fibrillation Trial

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2013-10-31

Study Completion Date

2017-03-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this prospective randomized study is to determine whether patients on cardiac resynchronization therapy with concomitant long-standing persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation would benefit from a strategy to restore and maintain sinus rhythm (rhythm control strategy) in comparison to a rate control strategy in terms of higher biventricular paced beats percentage.

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Detailed Description

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Due to a lack of sufficient data the present guidelines on treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices are of low scientific evidence. The efficacy of CRT in AF patients is limited by the percentage of the effective biventricular paced beats (BiVp%), which should exceed 95%-98% - a goal which is seldom obtained by means of pharmacological rate control strategy. The only treatment strategy which effect is scientifically established is an atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA) but the use of this method is limited.

On the other hand, about 10% of patients with persistent forms of AF experience a spontaneous sinus rhythm (SR) resumption after CRT implantation. Moreover, SR resumption and it's maintenance by means of single external electrical cardioversion in AF patients has been proven feasible. A strategy of rhythm control in AF patients on CRT could provide high BiVp% and improve the efficacy of CRT in this group of patients.

To show superiority of the rhythm control strategy over the rate control strategy a sample size of 60 patients was calculated based on following assumptions: two-tailed test, a type I error of 0.05, a power of 80%, efficacy (mean BiVp%) of rate control strategy 90%, efficacy (mean BiVp%)of rhythm control strategy 98% and 8% drop-out rate to fulfill the criteria of intention-to-treat analysis. Due to presumed lack of statistical power the secondary end points and safety endpoints will be considered exploratory.

Conditions

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Atrial Fibrillation Heart Failure

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Rhythm control

In this group a strategy to restore and maintain SR, including amiodarone and an external electrical cardioversion (EEC), is implemented. A procedure of AF ablation is possible but not obligatory.

At baseline, patients assigned to the group undergo a standard 12-lead ECG, a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPX), an echocardiography(ECHO), a standard device control; a serum thyroid -stimulating hormone (TSH) level is assessed and patients fill the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Control visits are performed every 3 months including a 12-lead ECG measurement and a device control. On the visits in the 3rd and 12th month an ECHO, a CPX, a 6MWT are performed and a MLHFQ is filled; control TSH levels are assessed every 6 months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Amiodarone

Intervention Type DRUG

The pharmacological treatment in the rhythm control strategy consist of amiodarone given orally including the loading dose up to 600mg daily - for the first 4 weeks. Then, a maintenance dose of 200mg/daily is prescribed. The use of other anti-arrhythmic agents is possible unless they are contraindicated. The introduction of amiodarone must not be performed unless the patient is treated effectively with oral anticoagulants for 3 weeks at least. Discontinuation of amiodarone results neither in withdrawal from the study nor in change of the treatment arm.

External electrical cardioversion (EEC)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The first EEC is performed after the loading dose of amiodarone has been administered. A maximal number of shocks during one cardioversion is 3. The amount of the energy delivered during shocks is left at discretion of a physician performing the EEC. The EEC must be performed in accordance with the present guidelines on EEC and post-procedural care and the state of art.

If atrial fibrillation reoccur, the patient should undergo a next EEC as soon as possible but preserving the safety time margins (i.e. effective anticoagulation period). The maximal no. of EEC procedures is 3. If sinus rhythm resumption or its maintenance is impossible or AF reoccur after the 3rd EEC, a strategy of rhythm control is discontinued and a rate control strategy is implemented.

Rate control

In the latter group a pharmacotherapy to slow and control ventricular rate by means of pharmacotherapy and an atrio-ventricular junction ablation (AVJA) is implemented.

At baseline, each patient assigned to the rate control group undergoes a standard 12-lead ECG, a 6MWT, a CPX, an ECHO, a standard device control and a serum TSH level assessed. Moreover, the patient fills the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionaire (MLHFQ). The control visits are performed for one year, every 3 months including a standard 12-lead ECG measurement and standard control of the device. On the visits in the 3rd and 12th month additionally an ECHO, a CPX, a 6MWT are performed and a MLHFQ is filled. The control TSH levels are assessed every 6 months.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pharmacotherapy to slow and control ventricular rate

Intervention Type DRUG

The pharmacotherapy should be consistent with current guidelines. It should include negative chronotropic and negative dromotropic agents such as beta-blockers, digitalis and amiodarone (the use of other, less popular agents, is also possible). The choice of the agents as well as their dosages are left at discretion of the treating physician. The goal of the therapy is to obtain BiVp% \>95%

Atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The procedure of atrioventricular junction ablation is dedicated to the patients in the rate control group in who the rate control is unsatisfactory. An AVJA procedure is not obligatory. The decision to perform an AVJA should be discussed with the patient and should be made collectively by the therapeutic team.

Interventions

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Amiodarone

The pharmacological treatment in the rhythm control strategy consist of amiodarone given orally including the loading dose up to 600mg daily - for the first 4 weeks. Then, a maintenance dose of 200mg/daily is prescribed. The use of other anti-arrhythmic agents is possible unless they are contraindicated. The introduction of amiodarone must not be performed unless the patient is treated effectively with oral anticoagulants for 3 weeks at least. Discontinuation of amiodarone results neither in withdrawal from the study nor in change of the treatment arm.

Intervention Type DRUG

External electrical cardioversion (EEC)

The first EEC is performed after the loading dose of amiodarone has been administered. A maximal number of shocks during one cardioversion is 3. The amount of the energy delivered during shocks is left at discretion of a physician performing the EEC. The EEC must be performed in accordance with the present guidelines on EEC and post-procedural care and the state of art.

If atrial fibrillation reoccur, the patient should undergo a next EEC as soon as possible but preserving the safety time margins (i.e. effective anticoagulation period). The maximal no. of EEC procedures is 3. If sinus rhythm resumption or its maintenance is impossible or AF reoccur after the 3rd EEC, a strategy of rhythm control is discontinued and a rate control strategy is implemented.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Pharmacotherapy to slow and control ventricular rate

The pharmacotherapy should be consistent with current guidelines. It should include negative chronotropic and negative dromotropic agents such as beta-blockers, digitalis and amiodarone (the use of other, less popular agents, is also possible). The choice of the agents as well as their dosages are left at discretion of the treating physician. The goal of the therapy is to obtain BiVp% \>95%

Intervention Type DRUG

Atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA)

The procedure of atrioventricular junction ablation is dedicated to the patients in the rate control group in who the rate control is unsatisfactory. An AVJA procedure is not obligatory. The decision to perform an AVJA should be discussed with the patient and should be made collectively by the therapeutic team.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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Cordarone Amiodaron Pacerone Aratac Cardinorm Rithmik Arycor Atlansil Tachyra beta-blockers digitalis amiodarone

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Permanent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (definitions according to the latest European Society of Cardiology guidelines on AF)
* At least 3 months after a procedure of a CRT device implantation
* A CRT device with a presence of a right atrial electrode
* Age: ≥18 years old
* Effectively biventricular paced captured beats \<95%
* Effective therapy with oral anticoagulants for at least 3 months
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Reversible causes of AF
* Significant valve disease
* Advanced A-V block (including: AVJA)
* Contraindications to amiodarone (hyperthyroidism, not compensated hypothyroidism, drug intolerance, QT\>460ms for men, QT\>450 for women)
* Long-QT syndrome
* Decompensation of the heart failure within 48 hours before the qualification
* Cardiac transplantation in 6 months
* Life expectancy less than 1 year
* Chronic dialysis
* LA diameter \>6cm
* Alcohol abuse
* Pregnancy/lack of effective contraceptive therapy (in case of females in the reproductive age)
* Participation in other clinical trial

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No