Catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation: the A4 study.
BACKGROUND
The mainstay of treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) remains pharmacological; however, catheter ablation has increasingly been used over the last decade. The relative merits of each strategy have not been extensively studied.


RESULTS
We conducted a randomized multicenter comparison of these 2 treatment strategies in patients with paroxysmal AF resistant to at least 1 antiarrhythmic drug. The primary end point was absence of recurrent AF between months 3 and 12, absence of recurrent AF after up to 3 ablation procedures, or changes in antiarrhythmic drugs during the first 3 months. Ablation consisted of pulmonary vein isolation in all cases, whereas additional extrapulmonary vein lesions were at the discretion of the physician. Crossover was permitted at 3 months in case of failure. Echocardiographic data, symptom score, exercise capacity, quality of life, and AF burden were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months by the supervising committee. Of 149 eligible patients, 112 (18 women [16%]; age, 51.1+/-11.1 years) were enrolled and randomized to ablation (n=53) or "new" antiarrhythmic drugs alone or in combination (n=59). Crossover from the antiarrhythmic drugs and ablation groups occurred in 37 (63%) and 5 patients (9%), respectively (P=0.0001). At the 1-year follow-up, 13 of 55 patients (23%) and 46 of 52 patients (89%) had no recurrence of AF in the antiarrhythmic drug and ablation groups, respectively (P<0.0001). Symptom score, exercise capacity, and quality of life were significantly higher in the ablation group.


CONCLUSIONS
This randomized multicenter study demonstrates the superiority of catheter ablation over antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with AF with regard to maintenance of sinus rhythm and improvement in symptoms, exercise capacity, and quality of life.
Jaïs
Pierre
P
Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, Avenue de Magellan, 33604 Bordeaux-Pessac, France. pierre.jais@chu-bordeaux.fr
Cauchemez
Bruno
B
Macle
Laurent
L
Daoud
Emile
E
Khairy
Paul
P
Subbiah
Rajesh
R
Hocini
Mélèze
M
Extramiana
Fabrice
F
Sacher
Fréderic
F
Bordachar
Pierre
P
Klein
George
G
Weerasooriya
Rukshen
R
Clémenty
Jacques
J
Haïssaguerre
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents