Can a freezing balloon beat drugs for persistent AF?

NCT ID NCT04942834

NEW Completed Disease control Sponsor: Ruijin Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 18, 2026 · Last updated Aug 18, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether using cryoballoon ablation as the first treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is more effective and safer than starting with anti-arrhythmic drugs. Adults aged 18-75 with symptomatic persistent AF and a structurally normal heart are eligible. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either cryoballoon ablation or drug therapy, and the study tracks freedom from AF recurrence and quality of life over 12 months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: cryoballoon ablation (a procedure using a balloon cooled to freeze heart tissue) compared with anti-arrhythmic drugs (propafenone, sotalol, dronedarone, amiodarone)
What this could lead to: If cryoballoon ablation works better than drugs as a first treatment, it could become a preferred option for persistent AF, potentially reducing the need for long-term medication and improving quality of life.
What could go wrong: This is a single-center trial, and results may not apply to all patients. Ablation carries risks like bleeding, infection, or heart damage, and AF may still return.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac atrial fibrillation cardiac rhythm disease persistent atrial fibrillation

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ARRHYTHMIAS, CARDIAC ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, PERSISTENT

Contacts and locations

Locations

"West China School of Medicine /West China Hospital of Sichuan University "

Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
Affiliated Hospital Of Nantong University

Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, China
Dongguan People's Hospital

Dongguan, Guangdong, 523018, China
Fujian Provincial Hospital

Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital

Taizhou, Jiangsu, 225300, China
Nanjing Drum Tower hospital

Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
Qilu Hospital Of Shandong University

Jinan, Shangdong, 250012, China
Ruijin Hospital

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200025, China
Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200072, China
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
The Affiliated Hospital Of Guizhou Medical University

Guiyang, Guizhou, 561113, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Ürümqi, Xinjiang, 830054, China
The First Affiliated Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511466, China
The Second Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300211, China
Tianjin Chest Hospital

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300022, China
Xuzhou Central Hospital

Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221009, China
Zhongda Hospital Southeast University

Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China

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