Study of AHRE Burden in Patients Undergoing Bachmann Bundle Area Pacing and Left Bundle Branch Pacing.

NCT ID: NCT07305194

Last Updated: 2025-12-26

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

460 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-01

Study Completion Date

2028-04-14

Brief Summary

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This prospective observational study evaluates the burden of Atrial High-Rate Episodes (AHRE) in patients without a prior history of atrial fibrillation who undergo concurrent Bachmann Bundle Area Pacing (BBAP) and Left Bundle Branch Pacing (LBBP). Physiological pacing at these sites aims to improve interatrial conduction and reduce the risk of atrial arrhythmias.

The study includes a comparative assessment across three patient groups:

1. BBAP + LBBP (physiological pacing group)
2. Right Atrial Appendage (RAA) pacing + LBBP
3. Conventional pacing - RAA and Right Ventricular (RV) pacing AHRE burden will be quantified via device diagnostics and remote monitoring at 3, 12 and 24 months post-implantation. Episodes will be classified by duration (0-6 min, 6-24 h, \>24 h), differentiating subclinical AHRE from clinically documented AF.

Secondary analyses include electrocardiographic changes (P-wave indices), the need for antiarrhythmic therapy, and comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation of atrial function (e.g., LA strain, conduction delays, LAVI).

The study aims to determine whether physiological pacing (BBAP + LBBP) provides superior protection against AHRE development compared with RAA + LBBP and conventional pacing strategies.

Detailed Description

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Atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) detected by cardiac implantable devices are associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, and atrial remodeling. Traditional right atrial and right ventricular pacing may alter atrial activation patterns, potentially promoting electrical and structural changes that predispose to atrial arrhythmias.

Physiologic pacing strategies targeting the Bachmann bundle region and the left bundle branch have emerged as alternatives designed to preserve normal conduction pathways. Bachmann Bundle Area Pacing (BBAP) facilitates more synchronous biatrial activation, while Left Bundle Branch Pacing (LBBP) results in near-physiologic ventricular activation. Both methods may reduce conduction delays and improve atrial and ventricular electromechanical function.

This prospective observational study examines whether physiologic atrial and ventricular pacing reduces the burden of device-detected AHRE compared with commonly used pacing configurations. Three groups are evaluated: (1) BBAP combined with LBBP, (2) right atrial appendage pacing combined with LBBP, and (3) conventional right atrial and right ventricular pacing. All enrolled participants have a clinical indication for permanent pacing and no prior diagnosis of AF.

AHRE burden will be assessed through routine device diagnostics and remote monitoring over a 24-month follow-up. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data will also be collected to explore relationships between conduction patterns, atrial function, and arrhythmia occurrence. The study aims to clarify whether preserving physiologic conduction pathways influences long-term AHRE burden and may contribute to AF prevention in paced patients.

Conditions

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Atrial Arrhythmia Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Pacemaker Implantation Left Bundle Branch Pacing Conduction System Pacing

Keywords

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Atrial High-Rate Episodes (AHRE) Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation Bachmann Bundle Area Pacing (BBAP) Left Bundle Branch Pacing (LBBP) Physiological Pacing Interatrial Conduction Atrial Synchrony P-wave Duration Atrial Electromechanical Remodeling Atrial Strain Left Atrial Reservoir Strain Inter-atrial Conduction Delay (IACD) Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Left Atrial Volume Index (LAVI) Atrial Arrhythmias Device-Detected AF

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Concurrent BBAP + LBBP (total physiological pacing)

No interventions assigned to this group

RAA pacing + LBBP

No interventions assigned to this group

Conventional pacing (RAA + RV pacing)

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult patients (≥ 18 years) with a clear indication for permanent pacing, according to ESC guidelines \[15\] for the management of conduction disturbances (e.g. symptomatic bradycardia, complete atrioventricular block, sinus node dysfunction).
* Sinus rhythm at the time of implantation, with no documented episodes of atrial fibrillation prior to implantation, either in the medical history or in previous recordings (ECG, Holter, telemetry).
* Ability to be followed up for at least 24 months after implantation.
* Provision of written informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

* History of atrial fibrillation prior to implantation, either permanent or paroxysmal, documented on ECG, Holter, or telemetry.
* Prior pharmacological or interventional treatment for AF (e.g. antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation).
* Inability to comply with long-term follow-up or non-adherence to follow-up visits.
* Contraindications to pacemaker lead placement at the selected sites.
* Participation in another study that could influence the results.
* Previous device implantation.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University Hospital of Patras

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Georgios Leventopoulos

Assistant Professor of Cardiology - Electrophysiology Patras University Hospital, Greece

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University General Hospital of Patras

Pátrai, Achaia, Greece

Site Status

Countries

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Greece

Central Contacts

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GEORGIOS LEVENTOPOULOS

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +306977786020

Email: [email protected]

References

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Infeld M, Habel N, Wahlberg K, Meagher S, Meyer M, Lustgarten D. Bachmann bundle potential during atrial lead placement: A case series. Heart Rhythm. 2022 Mar;19(3):490-494. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.11.015. Epub 2021 Nov 12. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 34775070 (View on PubMed)

Michael Glikson et al., 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy: Developed by the Task Force on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) With the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), European Heart Journal, Volume 42, Issue 35, 14 September 2021, Pages 3427-3520, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab364.

Reference Type RESULT

Glotzer TV, Hellkamp AS, Zimmerman J, Sweeney MO, Yee R, Marinchak R, Cook J, Paraschos A, Love J, Radoslovich G, Lee KL, Lamas GA; MOST Investigators. Atrial high rate episodes detected by pacemaker diagnostics predict death and stroke: report of the Atrial Diagnostics Ancillary Study of the MOde Selection Trial (MOST). Circulation. 2003 Apr 1;107(12):1614-9. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000057981.70380.45. Epub 2003 Mar 24.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 12668495 (View on PubMed)

Healey JS, Connolly SJ, Gold MR, Israel CW, Van Gelder IC, Capucci A, Lau CP, Fain E, Yang S, Bailleul C, Morillo CA, Carlson M, Themeles E, Kaufman ES, Hohnloser SH; ASSERT Investigators. Subclinical atrial fibrillation and the risk of stroke. N Engl J Med. 2012 Jan 12;366(2):120-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1105575.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22236222 (View on PubMed)

Yoshimoto D, Sakamoto Y, Uemura Y, Yamaguchi R, Naganawa H, Suzuki T. Comparative assessment of interatrial conduction delay during Bachmann's bundle pacing and right atrial appendage pacing using biatrial strain rate echocardiography. Heart Rhythm. 2025 Nov;22(11):2753-2754. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.12.016. Epub 2024 Dec 15. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 39681277 (View on PubMed)

Bailin SJ, Adler S, Giudici M. Prevention of chronic atrial fibrillation by pacing in the region of Bachmann's bundle: results of a multicenter randomized trial. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2001 Aug;12(8):912-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1540-8167.2001.00912.x.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 11513442 (View on PubMed)

Johner N, Namdar M, Shah DC. Intra- and interatrial conduction abnormalities: hemodynamic and arrhythmic significance. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2018 Aug;52(3):293-302. doi: 10.1007/s10840-018-0413-4. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30128800 (View on PubMed)

Kawakami H, Ramkumar S, Nolan M, Wright L, Yang H, Negishi K, Marwick TH. Left Atrial Mechanical Dispersion Assessed by Strain Echocardiography as an Independent Predictor of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: A Case-Control Study. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2019 Oct;32(10):1268-1276.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2019.06.002. Epub 2019 Aug 26.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31466848 (View on PubMed)

Zagoridis K, Koutalas E, Intzes S, Symeonidou M, Zagoridou N, Karagogos K, Spanoudakis E, Kanoupakis E, Kochiadakis G, Dinov B, Dagres N, Hindricks G, Bollmann A, Nedios S. P-wave duration and interatrial block as predictors of new-onset atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hellenic J Cardiol. 2023 Jul-Aug;72:57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.hjc.2023.03.007. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 37028490 (View on PubMed)

Vedage NA, Cronin EM. Effect of pacing site on P wave parameters: Within-patient comparison of right atrial appendage and Bachmann's bundle. J Electrocardiol. 2024 May-Jun;84:9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2024.02.006. Epub 2024 Feb 27.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 38432160 (View on PubMed)

Shali S, Su Y, Ge J. Interatrial septal pacing to suppress atrial fibrillation in patients with dual chamber pacemakers: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Int J Cardiol. 2016 Sep 15;219:421-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.06.093. Epub 2016 Jun 23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 27371866 (View on PubMed)

Infeld M, Nicoli CD, Meagher S, Tompkins BJ, Wayne S, Irvine B, Betageri O, Habel N, Till S, Lobel J, Meyer M, Lustgarten DL. Clinical impact of Bachmann's bundle pacing defined by electrocardiographic criteria on atrial arrhythmia outcomes. Europace. 2022 Oct 13;24(9):1460-1468. doi: 10.1093/europace/euac029.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 35304608 (View on PubMed)

Lemery R, Guiraudon G, Veinot JP. Anatomic description of Bachmann's bundle and its relation to the atrial septum. Am J Cardiol. 2003 Jun 15;91(12):1482-5, A8. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(03)00405-3. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 12804741 (View on PubMed)

Kreimer F, Gotzmann M. Pacemaker-induced atrial fibrillation reconsidered-associations with different pacing sites and prevention approaches. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024 Jun 18;11:1412283. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1412283. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 38957332 (View on PubMed)

Sweeney MO, Hellkamp AS, Ellenbogen KA, Greenspon AJ, Freedman RA, Lee KL, Lamas GA; MOde Selection Trial Investigators. Adverse effect of ventricular pacing on heart failure and atrial fibrillation among patients with normal baseline QRS duration in a clinical trial of pacemaker therapy for sinus node dysfunction. Circulation. 2003 Jun 17;107(23):2932-7. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000072769.17295.B1. Epub 2003 Jun 2.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 12782566 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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UHP-LBBP-BBP-AHRE-2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id