Pulsed-Field Ablation vs. Radiofrequency Ablation CombIned With Vein of Marshall Ethanol Ablation on Mitral Isthmus Block and Clinical Outcomes in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Official title

Pulsed-Field Ablation vs. Radiofrequency Ablation CombIned With Vein of Marshall Ethanol Ablation on Mitral Isthmus Block and Clinical Outcomes in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: The PRIME-AF Randomized Clinical Trial

Overview

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common clinical arrhythmias, and catheter ablation serves as a critical therapeutic approach. For persistent atrial fibrillation, several proposed ablation strategies-including the 2C3L technique, BOX lesion sets, and substrate modification-remain highly controversial regarding long-term success rates. Multiple studies suggest that linear ablation beyond pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) often fails to achieve durable block due to incomplete ablation lines, which significantly contributes to postoperative recurrence of atrial arrhythmias. In recent years, electrophysiologists have explored various methods to improve mitral isthmus (MI) ablation, such as combined endo-epicardial ablation and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with Marshall vein alcohol ablation. While RFA combined with anhydrous alcohol injection into the Marshall vein enhances MI block rates, it is associated with prolonged procedure time, unpredictable ablation zones, and higher complication risks (e.g., coronary artery spasm, pericarditis). Pulsed field ablation (PFA), an emerging non-thermal ablation technology, offers potential advantages such as tissue selectivity, shorter procedure time, and fewer complications. Studies report that RFA achieves near 100% immediate block rates; however, there is a lack of sufficient comparative studies on the efficacy and safety between these two ablation approaches. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes and safety profiles of PFA versus RFA combined with Marshall vein alcohol injection in patients with persistent AF.

Interventions

• Procedure catheter ablation
  In the experimental group, patients receive pulsed field ablation (PFA) to achieve pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), circumferential BOX ablation around bilateral pulmonary veins, and mitral isthmus ablation. In the control group, anhydrous alcohol is first injected into the Marshall vein, followed by radiofrequency catheter ablation to complete PVI, BOX lesion sets, and mitral isthmus ablation.

Primary outcome measures

• Immediate success rate of mitral isthmus ablation block [Time frame: immediately after the procedure]
• Mitral isthmus block rate [Time frame: 20 minutes after the procedure]

Secondary outcome measures (3)

• The incidence of atrial arrhythmias (tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation) over 30 seconds without antiarrhythmic drugs was followed up for 12 months. [Time frame: 1 year]
• time of operation [Time frame: immediately after the procedure]
• complication [Time frame: 2 weeks after the procedure]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Persistent atrial fibrillation;
• Ejection fraction >30%;
• NYHA functional class I-III;
• Left atrial diameter <55 mm on echocardiography;
• Signed informed consent form;

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women;
• Patients with a life expectancy of less than 2 years due to non-cardiovascular factors;
• Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, severe liver or kidney dysfunction;
• History of atrial fibrillation ablation;
• History of heart transplantation, complex congenital heart disease, or rheumatic heart disease;
• Contraindications to contrast agents, radiofrequency ablation, antiarrhythmic drugs, or anticoagulants;
• Acute coronary syndrome, cardiac surgery, angioplasty, or cerebrovascular 8.accident within 12 weeks prior to enrollment;

9.Other conditions deemed unsuitable for participation by investigators; 10.Participation in other clinical trials.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Publications

• Davong B, Adelino R, Delasnerie H, Albenque JP, Combes N, Cardin C, Voglimacci-Stephanopoli Q, Combes S, Boveda S. Pulsed-Field Ablation on Mitral Isthmus in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Preliminary Data on Efficacy and Safety. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 2023 Jul;9(7 Pt 2):1070-1081. doi: 10.1016/j.jacep.2023.03.021. Epub 2023 Jun 21. PMID 37354173
• Sang C, Liu Q, Lai Y, Xia S, Jiang R, Li S, Guo Q, Li Q, Gao M, Guo X, Huang L, Liu N, Jiang C, Zuo S, Liu X, Li M, Ge W, Song S, Chen L, Xie S, Zou J, Chen K, Liu X, Hu H, Wang X, Zhang J, Wang Z, Wang C, He L, Jiang C, Tang R, Zhou N, Wang Y, Long D, Du X, Jiang C, Macle L, Dong J, Ma C; PROMPT-AF investigators. Pulmonary Vein Isolation With Optimized Linear Ablation vs Pulmonary Vein Isolation PMID 39556379
• Valderrabano M, Peterson LE, Swarup V, Schurmann PA, Makkar A, Doshi RN, DeLurgio D, Athill CA, Ellenbogen KA, Natale A, Koneru J, Dave AS, Giorgberidze I, Afshar H, Guthrie ML, Bunge R, Morillo CA, Kleiman NS. Effect of Catheter Ablation With Vein of Marshall Ethanol Infusion vs Catheter Ablation Alone on Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: The VENUS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020 Oct 27;324(1 PMID 33107945

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06866704 · PRIME-AF

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗