Heart zapping vs. pills: which works better for stubborn irregular heartbeat?
NCT ID NCT06096337
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tests whether a procedure called pulsed field ablation (PFA) is safer and more effective than anti-arrhythmic drugs as a first treatment for people with persistent atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat. About 484 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the ablation or medication. The goal is to see which approach better controls the heart rhythm and reduces symptoms 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
Pulsed field ablation (a procedure using electrical pulses to destroy heart tissue causing irregular rhythm) and anti-arrhythmic drugs (medications like flecainide, sotalol, propafenone, dofetilide, dronedarone)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that pulsed field ablation is a better first-line treatment than drugs for persistent atrial fibrillation, potentially reducing symptoms and the need for long-term medication.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage comparison, and the ablation procedure carries risks like heart block, stroke, or blood vessel damage. The study is not yet complete, so results may not confirm superiority over drugs.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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AOU delle Marche - PO GM Lancisi
Ancona, AN, 60126, Italy
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Arrhythmia Research Group
Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401, United States
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Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53215, United States
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Banner University Medical Center Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona, 85006, United States
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Baptist Health Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky, 40503, United States
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Bethesda North Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, United States
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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CHU Grenoble - Hopital Michallon
Grenoble, 38043, France
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Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien
Frankfurt, 60431, Germany
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Cardiology Associates Medical Group, Inc
Ventura, California, 93003, United States
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Catholic Medical Center
Manchester, New Hampshire, 03102, United States
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Centro Cardiologico Monzino
Milan, MI, 20138, Italy
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Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Hospital (CJW)
Richmond, Virginia, 23225, United States
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Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System
Tyler, Texas, 75701, United States
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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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Community Heart and Vascular Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46250, United States
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Corewell Health
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
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Emory University Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, 30342, United States
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Fondazione PTV - Policlinico Tor Vergata
Roma, 00133, Italy
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Good Samaritan - Suffern
Suffern, New York, 10901, United States
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HCA Florida Mercy Hospital
Miami, Florida, 33133, United States
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Hamilton General Hospital
Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada
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Hospital Universitario La Fe
Valencia, Spain
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Institut universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec
Québec, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
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Intermountain Medical Center
Murray, Utah, 84107, United States
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Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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Kaleida Health
Buffalo, New York, 14203, United States
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Klinicki Bolnicki Centar Split
Split, 21 000, Croatia
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Maria Cecilia Hospital SPA
Cotignola, RA, 48010, Italy
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Mayo Clinic Foundation-Hospital
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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Medizinische Univ.-Kliniken Graz-Hospital
Graz, 8036, Austria
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Memorial Health University Medical Center
Savannah, Georgia, 31404, United States
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Mercy Hospital Medical Center-Hospital
West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266, United States
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Monash Medical Centre
Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
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National Heart Centre Singapore
Singapore, 169609, Singapore
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Northwell Health
Bay Shore, New York, 11706, United States
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OhioHealth Research and Innovation Institute - Riverside Methodist Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, 43214, United States
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Oklahoma Heart Institute
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104, United States
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Orion Medical
Houston, Texas, 77034, United States
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Phoenix Cardiovascular Research Group
Phoenix, Arizona, 85018, United States
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Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong
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Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
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Royal Adelaide Hospital-Hospital
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota, Florida, 34239, United States
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Scripps Memorial Hosptial
La Jolla, California, 92037, United States
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Southcoast Physicians Group
Fall River, Massachusetts, 02720, United States
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St. Jan
Bruges, B-8000, Belgium
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St. John's Hospital
Springfield, Illinois, 62701, United States
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St. Joseph's Hospital
Tampa, Florida, 33614, United States
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Staedtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe, 76133, Germany
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Stanford University Medical Center
Palo Alto, California, 94305-5406, United States
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Taipei Veterans General Hospital-Hospital
Taipei, 1127, Taiwan
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Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
Tallahassee, Florida, 32308, United States
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35249-7333, United States
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University of Michigan Hospitals
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, United States
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University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, 77555-0737, United States
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Valley Hospital
Paramus, New Jersey, 07652, United States
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
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Weill Cornell Medical University
New York, New York, 10021, United States
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York Hospital
York, Pennsylvania, 17403, United States