CAPLA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CAPLA trial: Catheter Ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation: A Multicentre randomised trial of Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) vs PVI with posterior Left Atrial wall isolation (PWI)
IRAS ID
270715
Contact name
Matthew Ginks
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ACTRN12616001436460, Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest heart rhythm disturbance, affecting 1-2% of the population. People with symptoms in relation to AF tend to receive tablet treatment. If this doesn’t improve the symptoms then catheter ablation is usually the next step.
Catheter ablation is carried out using a minimally invasive approach from the blood vessels at the top of the leg. The standard procedure involves ablation (cauterising) within the left atrium – one of the top collecting chambers in the heart - around the pulmonary veins as they enter the back of the heart. The goal is to achieve electrical isolation of these veins, as it is extra electrical impulses from these areas which tend to trigger the atrial fibrillation.
The single procedure success rate is around 50%, which means that many patients need to undergo this procedure more than once. Research is centred on improving the procedural success, and the optimal approach the catheter ablation remains unclear.
The CAPLA study is designed to help clarify the best strategy for AF ablation. It is an international study in which Oxford has been invited to be the only UK centre. The study is investigator-led. Participation in the study will be offered to patients already on the waiting list for catheter ablation. There will be a 1:1 randomisation between two treatment strategies: (i) Pulmonary vein isolation. This is the current standard of care, as outlined above, and (ii) standard of care plus ablation of two additional lines on the back wall of the heart in order to achieve electrical isolation of a larger area of the atrium.
Study participants will be followed up for a minimum of one year, with monitoring of safety and effectiveness of the procedure.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0048
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion