Catheter Ablation versus Standard conventional Treatment in patients with LEft ventricular dysfunction and Atrial Fibrillation - CASTLE-AF
Contribution To Literature:
The CASTLE-AF trial showed that catheter ablation was superior at preventing death or heart failure admissions.
Description:
The goal of the trial was to evaluate catheter ablation compared with standard treatment among patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation.
Study Design
- Randomized
- Parallel
Patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation were randomized to catheter ablation (n = 179) versus conventional treatment (n = 184).
- Total number of enrollees: 363
- Duration of follow-up: median 37.8 months
- Mean patient age: 64 years
- Mean left ventricular ejection fraction: 35%
Inclusion criteria:
- Symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation
- Intolerance or unwillingness to take at least one antiarrhythmic drug
- Left ventricular ejection fraction: ≤35%
- New York Heart Association class ≥2
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator with home monitoring capabilities
Principal Findings:
The primary outcome, incidence of death or hospitalization for heart failure, occurred in 28.5% of the catheter ablation group vs. 44.6% of the control group (p = 0.007).
- All-cause mortality: 13.4% with catheter ablation vs. 25.0% with control (p = 0.01)
- Hospitalization for heart failure: 20.7% with catheter ablation vs. 35.9% with control (p = 0.004)
Interpretation:
Among patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation was superior to conventional treatment. Catheter ablation was associated with a reduction in deaths or hospitalizations for heart failure.
References:
Marrouche NF, Brachmann J, Andresen D, et al., on behalf of the CASTLE-AF Investigators. Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With Heart Failure. N Engl J Med 2018;Feb 1:[Epub ahead of print].
Editorial: Link MS. Paradigm Shift for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure. N Engl J Med 2018;Feb 1:[Epub ahead of print].
Presented by Dr. Nassir Marrouche at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, Barcelona, Spain, August 27, 2017.
Keywords: Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Atrial Fibrillation, Catheter Ablation, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices, Defibrillators, Implantable, ESC Congress, ESC2017, Heart Failure, Primary Prevention, Stroke Volume, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
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