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Renal Denervation in Patients With Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation After Successful Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Arrhythmia Burden in Patients With Recurrent, Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Despite Durable Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Interventions
Device: Renal Denervation
Registration Number
NCT05817318
Lead Sponsor
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate whether renal denervation can reduce arrhythmia burden in patients with recurrent, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation despite durable pulmonary vein isolation.

Detailed Description

Pulmonary vein isolation is the treatment of choice in symptomatic patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Despite durable pulmonary vein isolation, 15% of patients continue to have episodes of atrial fibrillation because of triggers of atrial fibrillation localized outside the pulmonary veins. Additional ablation of these triggers is difficult because they often cannot be localized. The autonomous nervous system does influence these triggers and modulation of the autonomous nervous system with the goal to reduce sympathetic activity may be an alternative approach to suppress these extra-pulmonary vein triggers. Renal denervation does reduce sympathetic activity and is successfully used to treat drug-resistant arterial hypertension. The combination of pulmonary vein isolation with renal denervation has already been shown to be superior to pulmonary vein isolation alone in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation regarding arrhythmia-free outcome. The investigators hypothesize that renal denervation can suppress atrial fibrillation in patients with recurrent episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation despite durable isolation of the pulmonary veins.

The best way to assess atrial fibrillation burden is with an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM), which the investigators will use both before and after renal denervation, to gather detailed data on daily atrial fibrillation burden.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Informed Consent signed by the subject
  • ≥ 18 years of age
  • Recurrent, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation post repeat (≥2) pulmonary vein isolation
  • Documentation of atrial fibrillation ≥3 months after the last atrial fibrillation ablation procedure by a 12-lead ECG or on a rhythm strip of ≥30 seconds duration
  • Either an office systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg at the screening visit or antihypertensive drug therapy
Exclusion Criteria
  • Persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation post pulmonary vein isolation
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction <40%
  • Severe aortic or mitral valve stenosis
  • Treatment with amiodaron within the last 3 months
  • Mandatory treatment with class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs
  • History of reflex syncope, syncope due to orthostatic hypotension or unclear syncope in the past 3 years.
  • History of orthostatic hypotension
  • Abnormal blood pressure fall during active standing, defined as a progressive and sustained fall in systolic blood pressure from baseline value ≥20 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥10mmHg, or a decrease in systolic blood pressure to <90 mmHg.
  • Prior renal denervation
  • Renal artery stent or prior renal angioplasty
  • Polycystic kidney disease, unilateral kidney, or history of renal transplant
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 50mL/min, using the CKD-EPI creatinine equation (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology)
  • Female of childbearing potential (age <50 years and last menstruation within the last 12 months), who did not undergo tubal ligation, ovariectomy or hysterectomy.
  • Life expectancy <1 year
  • Enrolment in interventional studies if the other study does not allow enrolment or if primary endpoint might be affected by study participation.
  • Diabetes mellitus type I
  • Aortic grafts

The following exclusion criteria will apply after the run-in phase of up to 3 months duration, prospectively in patients which receive a new ICM and retrospectively in patients which already have an ICM implanted:

  • Episodes of atrial fibrillation on <6 days in the 3 months run-in phase.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Pre-to-post renal denervation treatmentRenal DenervationPre-to-post treatment comparison
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in atrial fibrillation burden6 months

The primary endpoint is the atrial fibrillation burden in the 6 months following renal denervation compared to the 3 months before renal denervation as assessed by the ICM.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in mean number of days with atrial fibrillation6 months

Mean number of days with atrial fibrillation in the 6 months following renal denervation compared to the 3 months before, as assessed by the ICM.

Evolution of AF burden measured as mean number of days with atrial fibrillation in the 12 months following renal denervation, as compared to before renal denervation12 months

Evolution of AF burden measured as mean number of days with atrial fibrillation in the 12 months following renal denervation, as compared to before renal denervation

Evolution of AF burden measured as mean number of days with atrial fibrillation in the 3 years following renal denervation, as compared to before renal denervation3 years

Evolution of AF burden measured as mean number of days with atrial fibrillation in the 3 years following renal denervation, as compared to before renal denervation

Change in night heart rate following renal denervation12 months

Night heart rate following renal denervation compared to before, as assessed by the ICM.

Change in patient activity12 months

Patient activity following renal denervation compared to before, as assessed by the ICM

Freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence12 months

Freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence at 12 months after renal denervation

Time to first atrial fibrillation recurrence after renal denervation12 month
Change in arterial blood pressure after renal denervation12 month

Arterial blood pressure 12 months after renal denervation compared to before (office blood pressure measurements).

Change in day heart rate following renal denervation12 months

Day heart rate following renal denervation compared to before, as assessed by the ICM.

Change in heart rate variability12 months

Heart rate variability following renal denervation compared to before, as assessed by the ICM.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Universitätsspital Basel

🇨🇭

Basel, Switzerland

Inselspital Bern

🇨🇭

Bern, Switzerland

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