Effects of Fish Oil on Post Ablation Arrhythmias

Phase 4

Terminated

Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation

Interventions: Drug: LOVAZA Omega 3-acid ethyl esters
Other: placebo
Drug: LOVAZA

Registration Number: NCT00791089

Lead Sponsor: University of Michigan

Brief Summary: To determine if peri-operative treatment with omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a decrease in the incidence of early recurrences of atrial arrhythmias (within 30 days) and an improvement in probability of long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm after radiofrequency catheter ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Detailed Description: AF is the most prevalent arrhythmia, affecting \>2 million Americans. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy often is ineffective to eliminate recurrent episodes of AF. In recent years radiofrequency catheter ablation has emerged as a highly effective treatment strategy in patients with paroxysmal and chronic AF.6, 7 However, AF may recur within days to weeks after a successful ablation procedure in up to 50% of the patients, probably because of an inflammatory response to thermal injury caused by radiofrequency energy application. These early recurrences of AF after ablation do not necessarily predict long-term clinical outcome and 30-50% of patients who develop early recurrences ultimately remain in sinus rhythm without the need for additional ablation.8 However, early recurrences of AF may be associated with significant morbidity due to troubling symptoms of rapid ventricular rates, multiple hospital visits and cardioversions, need for antiarrhythmic drug therapy and prolongation in duration of anticoagulant therapy. It is also possible that if early recurrences of AF after ablation can be avoided, the probability of remaining in sinus rhythm during long-term follow-up may be higher, as maintenance of sinus rhythm early-on may facilitate reverse left atrial remodeling. A similar phenomenon may occur in post-operative AF, that develops in \~30% of patients who undergo cardiac surgery. Post-operative AF is often transient and usually resolves within 3 months after the surgery. Perioperative treatment with omega-3 fatty acids has been reported to decrease the incidence of postoperative AF after coronary artery by-pass surgery.4 Because the pathogenetic factors that play a role in postoperative AF and early recurrences of AF after radiofrequency catheter ablation may be similar, it is plausible that treatment with omega-3 fatty acids before and after ablation will be associated with a reduction in the incidence of early recurrences of AF.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

Age > 18 years and < 70 years old
Left atrial size <55 mm

Exclusion Criteria

Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
Current therapy with omega-3 fatty acids
Current therapy with a statin
Active liver disease
Significant comorbidity such as end-stage renal disease or cirrhosis
Valvular prosthesis

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Fish Oil, Ablation, Sinus Rhythm	LOVAZA Omega 3-acid ethyl esters	Patients in the treatment arm will receive omega-3 fatty acids (EPA+DHA 4 gram/day) for 4 weeks before and 3 months after the ablation procedure.
placebo, Ablation, sinus rhythm	placebo	Patients in the control arm will not receive any omega-3 fatty acids. However they will receive placebo.
Fish Oil, Ablation, Sinus Rhythm	LOVAZA	Patients in the treatment arm will receive omega-3 fatty acids (EPA+DHA 4 gram/day) for 4 weeks before and 3 months after the ablation procedure.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants With Normal Sinus Rhythm (Freedom From Atrial Arrhythmias)	6 months	Freedom from atrial arrhythmias at 6 months will be defined as absence of any atrial arrhythmias with or without antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy as shown in the two lines

Secondary Outcome Measures