Heart procedure put to the test: real relief or placebo?
NCT ID NCT05119231
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares a common heart procedure called pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to a fake (sham) version to see if it truly reduces symptoms of atrial fibrillation. About 262 people with symptomatic AF will be randomly assigned to receive either the real procedure or a sham procedure that mimics it. The goal is to measure changes in symptoms and quality of life after 6 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
catheter ablation (pulmonary vein isolation)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could confirm that catheter ablation genuinely improves symptoms and quality of life for people with atrial fibrillation, beyond a placebo effect.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small trial (262 participants) and the sham procedure involves risks like sedation and puncture. The results may not apply to all AF patients, and symptom improvement could still be partly placebo.
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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Department of Cardiology, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases
Zabrze, Poland
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German Heart Center of Charité University Medicine, Standort Charité Mitte
Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany
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German Heart Center of Charité University Medicine, Standort DHZB
Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany
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Heart Center Dresden University Hospital
Dresden, Saxony, 01307, Germany
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Herzzentrum Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany
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Regiomed Klinikum
Coburg, Bavaria, 96450, Germany
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University Hospital Gießen
Giessen, Hesse, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Münster
Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, 48149, Germany