USURP AF-study II
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the Electrophysiological Substrate in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation - II (USURP AF-study II)
IRAS ID
254100
Contact name
G Andre Ng
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of chronic heart rhythm abnormality worldwide.Despite many advances, the pathophysiology of AF remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study is to follow on from a pilot study of 10 patients. As in that study we will use a non-contact array for mapping the right and left atrium. The data will be analysed using various signal processing methods to increase our understanding of the eletrophysiology of persistent AF, and to visualise potential AF ablation targets.
Lay summary of study results: - The study observed that in persistent Atrial Fibrillation (long-lasting irregular heart beats), additional heart tissue treatment targeting the current calculations of Dominant Frequency (The main speed/rate of the abnormal electrical signals) and/or Organisation Index (How ordered the signals are); did not work better than the usual treatment. The usual treatment is pulmonary vein isolation, in which small areas of scars are created around the veins bringing blood from the lungs to the heart, to block the erratic signals that trigger the start of atrial fibrillation.
- More translational research (work that turns laboratory findings into practical patient treatments) is needed to find the best way to calculate the measurements that may keep persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) going.
- It is feasible to compare results from two ways of mapping the heart’s electrical activity in the upper chambers (atria) during atrial fibrillation: contact mapping (sensors touch the heart tissue) and non-contact mapping (sensors record from inside the heart without touching the tissue).REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EM/0031
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion