2006
APAF STUDY
A randomized trial of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF)
randomized controlled trial
M
Objective: To compare the relative efficacy of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) & antiarrhythmic drug therapy (ADT) in the treatment of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) who have already failed antiarrhythmic drugs
198 patients
Inclusion criteria: Patients >18 or <70 years with (1) creatinine concentration < 1.5mg/dl (2) h/o atrial fibrillation for > 6 months (3) AF burden > 2 episodes/ month in the last 6 months
Circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (n=99)
86
VS
Antiarrhythmic drug therapy (n=99)
PRIMARY OUTCOME
% patients free from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias P<0.001
SECONDARY OUTCOMES
22
22
93
% patients free from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after repeat ablation.
35
35
95
95
Patients with sinus rhythm at 1 year % P=0.08
87
Conclusion: Among patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, CPVA is more successful than ADT for prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with few complications
C Pappone et al. JACC 2006,48(11):2340-2347
