CASTLE-AF study comparison of catheter ablation versus pharmacological therapy for heart failure with atrial fibrillation.- Biotronik

The CASTLE-AF study �described as �potentially guideline-changing�, has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial, conducted with Biotronik's support, shows a 38 percent reduction in the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for worsening heart failure, when catheter ablation is used to treat heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This reduction was observed when compared to patients treated with the pharmacological therapy recommended by current guidelines.

�As the first AF catheter ablation study to confirm a positive composite endpoint of mortality and morbidity at a mean follow-up of more than three years, we expect CASTLE-AF to be a widely-discussed study, particularly with how it may change treatment guidelines,� says Dr. Nassir Marrouche, CARMA Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, US, who led the trial along with Dr. Johannes Brachmann, Coburg Clinic, Germany. �These findings indicate heart failure patients with coexisting AF should be treated with catheter ablation as a first-line therapy,� Dr. Brachmann says. �The data suggests the procedure should be performed as early as possible to achieve ideal results,� said Marrouche

All patients enrolled in the study had ICDs or CRT-Ds with Biotronik Home Monitoring technology implanted. CASTLE-AF joins the IN-TIME2 and TRUECOIN 3 studies in demonstrating successful ways to reduce mortality in heart failure patients.

See-

" Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation with Heart Failure"-Nassir F. Marrouche, M.D., Johannes Brachmann, M.D., Dietrich Andresen, M.D., J�rgen Siebels, M.D.,et.,al. for the CASTLE-AF Investigators.-February 1, 2018 N Engl J Med 2018; 378:417-427. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1707855.