General information
  • Disease category Other (BASEC)
  • Study Phase N/A (ICTRP)
  • Recruitment status recruitment ongoing (BASEC/ICTRP)
  • Trial sites
    Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich
    (BASEC)
  • Contact Prof Haran Burri haran.burri@hug.ch (BASEC)
  • Data Source(s) BASEC: Import from 23.04.2025 ICTRP: Import from 11.01.2025
  • Last update 23.04.2025 09:56
HumRes65798 | SNCTP000006064 | BASEC2024-01807 | NCT06207383

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation compared to conduction system stimulation with ablation of the atrioventricular node in heart failure patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

  • Disease category Other (BASEC)
  • Study Phase N/A (ICTRP)
  • Recruitment status recruitment ongoing (BASEC/ICTRP)
  • Trial sites
    Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich
    (BASEC)
  • Contact Prof Haran Burri haran.burri@hug.ch (BASEC)
  • Data Source(s) BASEC: Import from 23.04.2025 ICTRP: Import from 11.01.2025
  • Last update 23.04.2025 09:56

Summary description of the study

In this study, we compare two treatment strategies for persistent atrial fibrillation associated with heart failure. If you decide to participate, you will be part of either the intervention group or the control group. You will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. You will know which group you belong to. In the intervention group, you will be treated with the method of conduction system stimulation by a pacemaker and catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node. In the control group, you will be treated with catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins. We will invite you to three consultations during the first year and then to two annual consultations as part of the study. These appointments are part of standard treatment and are conducted independently of your participation in the study. In addition to the usual pacemaker follow-up, a medical questionnaire will need to be completed during visits, and an echocardiogram will be performed at the one-year follow-up.

(BASEC)

Intervention under investigation

• Group 1 (intervention group) is treated with the implantation of a pacemaker with conduction system stimulation, followed by catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node. • Group 2 (control group) is treated with catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins aimed at restoring and maintaining a normal heart rhythm.

(BASEC)

Disease under investigation

Atrial fibrillation

(BASEC)

Criteria for participation in trial
• Persistent AF with symptomatic HF despite appropriate medical treatment for AF ablation, with at most one prior PVI procedure. Persistent AF is defined as AF that lasts continuously for more than seven days, including episodes terminated by cardioversion (medication or electrical) after > 7 days. • At least one prior hospitalization or emergency department/clinic visit for HF in the last 2 years, with NT-pro-BNP > 1,000 pg/ml or BNP > 250 pg/ml measured at any time during this interval. • Prior or current rate or rhythm control medication. • Age > 60 years (BASEC)

Exclusion criteria
• NYHA Class IV and systolic blood pressure ≤80 mmHg despite optimized therapy. • Life expectancy < 2 years. • Need for major surgical intervention. • Myocardial infarction, stroke or percutaneous coronary intervention within the previous 3 months. • Previously implanted or planned implantation of CRT device or pacemaker. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation without a pacing indication is acceptable. • Participation in another controlled trial. • Inability to sign an informed consent form. (BASEC)

Trial sites

Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich

(BASEC)

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom (ICTRP)

Sponsor

Service de cardiologie Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève

(BASEC)

Contact

Contact Person Switzerland

Prof Haran Burri

+41795533710

haran.burri@hug.ch

Service de cardiologie Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève

(BASEC)

General Information

+41794616217

haran.burri@hug.ch

(ICTRP)

Scientific Information

+41794616217

haran.burri@hug.ch

(ICTRP)

Name of the authorising ethics committee (for multicentre studies, only the lead committee)

Ethics Committee Geneva

(BASEC)

Date of authorisation

16.09.2024

(BASEC)


ICTRP Trial ID
NCT06207383 (ICTRP)

Official title (approved by ethics committee)
Catheter ABlation of Atrial fibrillation versus atrioventricular nodal ablation with CondUction System pacing in persistent atrial fibrillation and heart failure (ABACUS) (BASEC)

Academic title
Catheter ABlation of Atrial Fibrillation Versus Atrioventricular Nodal Ablation with CondUction System Pacing in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure (ICTRP)

Public title
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Versus Atrioventricular Nodal Ablation with Conduction System Pacing in Heart Failure (ICTRP)

Disease under investigation
Atrial Fibrillation, Persistent;Heart Failure (ICTRP)

Intervention under investigation
Device: Conduction system pacing;Procedure: Atrioventricular nodal ablation;Procedure: Atrial fibrillation ablation (ICTRP)

Type of trial
Interventional (ICTRP)

Trial design
Allocation: Randomized. Intervention model: Parallel Assignment. Primary purpose: Treatment. Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor). (ICTRP)

Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Gender: All
Maximum age: N/A
Minimum age: 60 Years
Inclusion Criteria:

(i) Persistent AF with symptomatic HF despite medical therapy, considered to be suitable
for AF ablation, with at most one previous PVI procedure.

(ii) At least one prior hospital admission, or emergency room / HF clinic visit for HF in
the past 2 years, with NT-pro-BNP > 1000 pg/ml or BNP > 250 pg/ml measured at any
timepoint during this interval.

(iii) Previous or current rate or rhythm control drug therapy. (iv) Age > 60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

(i) NYHA Class IV and systolic blood pressure =80 mmHg despite optimized therapy.

(ii) Life expectancy < 2 years. (iii) Need for major surgical intervention. (iv)
Myocardial infarction, stroke or PCI within the previous 3 months. (v) Previously
implanted or planned implantation of CRT device or pacemaker. Implantable cardioverter
defibrillator (ICD) implantation without a pacing indication is acceptable.

(vi) Participation in another controlled trial. (vii) Inability to sign and informed
consent form. (ICTRP)

not available

Primary and secondary end points
Superiority endpoint;Non-inferiority endpoint (ICTRP)

Minnesota Living with Heart Failure quality of life measure;Left ventricular ejection fraction;Complications;NYHA class;Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (ICTRP)

Registration date
17.12.2023 (ICTRP)

Incorporation of the first participant
not available

Secondary sponsors
Swiss National Science Foundation (ICTRP)

Additional contacts
Haran Burri, haran.burri@hcuge.ch, +41794616217 (ICTRP)

Secondary trial IDs
SNF_32003B_220116 (ICTRP)

Results-Individual Participant Data (IPD)
not available

Further information on the trial
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06207383 (ICTRP)


Results of the trial

Results summary

not available

Link to the results in the primary register

not available