Which blood thinner best prevents stroke after AF ablation?
NCT ID NCT02168829
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This trial tested two blood thinners—rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and aspirin—in over 1,200 people with atrial fibrillation who had a successful ablation procedure. The goal was to see which one better prevents strokes and silent brain clots. Participants were followed for three years with MRI scans to detect hidden strokes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and Aspirin (ASA)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could show that a blood thinner like rivaroxaban is better than aspirin at preventing strokes in people who have had successful ablation for atrial fibrillation.
What could go wrong
This is a completed Phase 4 trial, but results may not apply to all patients. Blood thinners like rivaroxaban also increase bleeding risk, which could outweigh benefits.
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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ASklepios
Hamburg, Germany
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AZ Delta campus Wilgenstraat
Roeselare, Belgium
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AZ Sint-Jan (Brugge)
Bruges, Belgium
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Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis - campus Aalst
Aalst, Belgium
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Arlon - Clinique du Sud-Luxembourg
Arlon, Belgium
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Canberra Hospital
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2605, Australia
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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège
Liège, Belgium
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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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Centre Hospitalier de L'Universite de Montreal (CHUM)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Elektrophysiologie GFO-Kliniken Bonn
Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, 53225, Germany
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Europa Ziekenhuizen - ST-ELISABETH
Brussels, Belgium
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Foothills Medical Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Galilee Medical Centre
Nahariya, 22100, Israel
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Hamilton Health Sciences Centre
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Heart Rhythm Clinic
Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
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Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW Ruhr-Universitat Bochum
Bad Oeynhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 32545, Germany
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Herzzentrum Leipzig
Leipzig, Leipzig, 04289, Germany
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Herzzentrum der Universitat Koln
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 50937, Germany
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Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Imeldaziekenhuis
Bonheiden, Belgium
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Institut Universitarie de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec
Québec, Quebec, Canada
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Jessa Ziekenhuis
Hasselt, Belgium
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Kelowna Interior Health
Kelowna, Canada
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Kerckhoff Klinik
Bad Nauheim, Hesse, 61231, Germany
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Kingston General Hospital
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Klinikum Coburg
Coburg, Bavaria, 96450, Germany
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London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario, Canada
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McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Melbourne Health
Melbourne, Victoria, 3050, Australia
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Middelares Gent - AZ Maria Middelares
Ghent, Belgium
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Montreal Health Institute
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Onze Lieve Vrouw Ziekenhuis
Aalst, Belgium
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Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Royal Adelaide Hospital
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
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Royal Columbian/Fraser Clinical Trials
New Westminster, British Columbia, V3L 3W4, Canada
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Scarborough Health Network- Rougevalley
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Segeberger Liniken
Bad Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein, 23795, Germany
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Sherbrooke- Grandby site
Granby, Quebec, Canada
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Sint-Jean - Kliniek Sint-Jan (Brussels)
Brussels, Belgium
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Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Southlake Regional Health Centre
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
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St. Mary's General Hospital
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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St. Paul's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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The Alfred Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
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UKSH Lubeck
Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, 23538, Germany
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Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (UZA)
Edegem, Belgium
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Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent
Ghent, Belgium
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Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven, Belgium
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Universitares Herzzentrum Hamburg
Hamburg, 20246, Germany
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University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4W7, Canada
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Victoria Cardiac Arrhythmia Trials Inc.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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ZNA Middelheim
Antwerp, Belgium
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Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg , campus St Jan
Lanaken, Belgium