Skip to content

Efficacy and Safety of Catheter abLation in patiEnts With seVere mitrAl regurgiTation and pErsistent Atrial Fibrillation: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy and Safety of Catheter abLation in patiEnts With seVere mitrAl regurgiTation and pErsistent Atrial Fibrillation: a Randomized Controlled Trial(ELEVATE-AF)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06883864
Acronym
ELEVATE-AF
Enrollment
146
Registered
2025-03-19
Start date
2025-04-08
Completion date
2028-05-01
Last updated
2026-03-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation, Catheter Ablation

Keywords

atrial fibrillation, mitral regurgitation, catheter ablation

Brief summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to atrial functional mitral regurgitation (MR) through mechanisms including mitral annular dilatation, systolic leaflet motion distance alteration, and contractility decrease. Compared with primary MR, atrial functional MR due to AF and other diseases tends to have a worse prognosis, with a higher risk of death and heart failure hospitalization. MR and AF co-exist and exacerbate left atrial dysfunction, further causing worse cardiac dysfunction, valvular regurgitation, and aggravating prognosis. The best therapy for secondary MR is unclear because MR is only one component of the disease, and restoration of mitral valve competence is not curative. Catheter ablation improves symptoms and cardiac function in patients with AF, reduces risks of AF recurrence and hospitalization, as well as increases quality of life. For patients with AF combined with functional moderate-to-severe MR, previous observational studies have found that the severity of MR significantly reduced after taking catheter ablation to restore sinus rhythm. We hypothesized that catheter ablation would significantly improve the severity of MR in patients with severe atrial functional MR combined with persistent AF compared with drug therapy alone.

Detailed description

The ELEVATE-AF is a multi-center, open-label, parallel design, randomized controlled trial. Eligible subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the catheter ablation combined with drug group or to the drug-alone group. A total of 146 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and severe atrial functional mitral regurgitation (MR) (severity of moderate-to-severe \[3+\] or severe \[4+\]) will be enrolled at up to 17 investigational sites in China. The enrollment period is estimated to last approximately 18 months. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with residual MR of moderate \[2+\] or less assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at 3 months. MR severity is confirmed by the Echocardiography Core Lab according to the American Society of Cardiac Ultrasound criteria (mitral effective regurgitant orifice area \[EROA)\]≤20 mm2). The secondary endpoints evaluate: (i)all-cause mortality; (ii)cardiovascular hospitalization; (iii)undergoing interventional or surgical treatment of mitral valve; (iv)heart failure hospitalization or emergency room visit; (v)change in scores on the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT) Questionnaire, and the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L); (vi) freedom from any documented atrial arrhythmias lasting more than 30 seconds and atrial fibrillation burden. The safety endpoints include: (i)perioperative surgical complications (within 30 days after catheter ablation procedure); (ii)major bleeding (ISTH definition); (iii)stroke and systemic embolism. As an extension of the ELEVATE-AF trial, ELEVATE-AF X study will conducted after 3-month follow-up of ELEVATE-AF. The ELEVATE-AF X study is designed as a prospective, multi-center, continued access registry study. The objective of the this study is to validate the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation procedure in patients with persistent AF and severe atrial functional MR. All patients will receive catheter ablation if the procedure is needed, and the medical therapy for ELEVATE-AF X is identical to that of ELEVATE-AF trial. Active follow-up of patients will be performed through 12 months.

Interventions

PROCEDURECatheter ablation plus medication

All patients will receive atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. They also should receive guideline-directed medical therapy, anticoagulation, and rate control with medications according to the guidelines.

DRUGMedication

Patients will receive guideline-directed medical therapy, anticoagulation, and rate control according to the guidelines for the management of AF and heart failure.

PROCEDURE(ELEVATE-AF X) experimental group

Subsequent ablations may be considered for patients with recurrence,and the medical therapy for ELEVATE-AF X is identical to that of the ELEVATE-AF trial.

PROCEDURE(ELEVATE-AF X) control group

All patients could receive catheter ablation if the procedure is needed, and the medical therapy for ELEVATE-AF X is identical to that of the ELEVATE-AF trial.

Sponsors

Beijing Anzhen Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER
Abbott
CollaboratorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients were required to have moderate-to-severe or greater (≥3+) atrial functional mitral regurgitation assessed by transthoracic echocardiography within 14 days before randomization. Mitral regurgitation severity was graded by an echocardiography core-lab based on the American Society of Echocardiography criteria, specifically an effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) ≥30 mm² 2. Age 18-80 years 3. Persistent atrial fibrillation diagnosed by electrocardiogram 4. Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% assessed by transthoracic echocardiography within 14 days before randomization(confirmed by the echocardiography core-lab) 5. Left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter ≤60 mm and left atrial anterior- posterior diameter ≤60 mm in echocardiographic parasternal long-axis view within 14 days before randomization(confirmed by the echocardiography core-lab) 6. Agree to undergo catheter ablation and be able to undergo follow-up as required.

Exclusion criteria

1. paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation secondary to an apparently reversible cause, or with history of previous ablation; 2. primary mitral valve pathology, including calcification, sclerosis, prolapse, flail, tendon cable rupture, valve degeneration, infective endocarditis, rheumatic lesions, or ischemic lesions; 3. history of previous mitral valve surgery or transcatheter manipulation; 4. mitral valve orifice area \<4 cm2; 5. aortic valve disease requiring surgical or transcatheter intervention; 6. untreated clinically significant coronary artery disease requiring revascularization; 7. history of previous myocardial infarction; 8. previous definitive diagnosis of cardiomyopathies such as dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and infiltrative cardiomyopathies (e.g., amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, and nodular disease) 9. echocardiographic evidence of intracardiac mass or thrombus; 10. implant of cardiac device (pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, cardiac resynchronization therapy device, or left atria appendage closure); 11. hemodynamic instability requiring cardiac assist devices, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), or other hemodynamic support; 12. any percutaneous cardiac intervention (percutaneous coronary intervention, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, etc.) within the 30 days prior to randomization, 13. any cardiac surgery within the 6 months prior to randomization; 14. active infections requiring current antibiotic therapy; 15. a known hypersensitivity or contradiction to procedure medications which cannot be adequately managed medically; 16. contraindication to appropriate anti-coagulation therapy; 17. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring continuous home oxygen therapy or chronic oral steroid therapy; 18. acute cerebrovascular accident within 30 days prior to randomization or Modified Rankin Score ≥ 4; 19. symptomatic severe carotid stenosis (\>70% by ultrasound); 20. other planned surgical or interventional procedures within the next 3 months; 21. liver failure; 22. renal failure or dialysis status; 23. pregnant or planning pregnancy within the next 3 months; 24. life expectancy \< 12 months (e.g., advanced malignant tumors); 25. currently participating in other interventional studies; 26. circumstances that, in the judgment of the researcher, make participation in this study unsuitable.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with residual MR of moderate [2+] or less assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at 3 months.3 monthThe primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with residual MR of moderate \[2+\] or less assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at 3 months. MR severity is confirmed by the Echocardiography Core Lab according to the American Society of Cardiac Ultrasound criteria (mitral effective regurgitant orifice area \[EROA)\]≤20 mm2).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
all-cause mortality3 month
cardiovascular hospitalization3 month
undergoing interventional or surgical treatment of mitral valve3 month
heart failure hospitalization or emergency room visit3 month
Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT) score change between baseline and 3 month3 monthQuality of life assessed by AFEQT questionaire
EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) score change between baseline and 3 month3 monthQuality of life assessed by EQ-5D-5L scale
freedom from any documented atrial arrhythmias lasting more than 30 seconds and atrial fibrillation burden3 month
Change from baseline to 3 months in the 6-minute walk distance3 months
(ELEVATE-AF X) the proportion of patients with residual MR of moderate [2+] or less assessed by transthoracic echocardiography12 month
(ELEVATE-AF X) all-cause mortality12 month
(ELEVATE-AF X) cardiovascular hospitalization12 month
(ELEVATE-AF X) undergoing interventional or surgical treatment of mitral valve12 month
(ELEVATE-AF X) heart failure hospitalization or emergency room visit12 month
(ELEVATE-AF X) Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT) score change between baseline and 12 month12 monthQuality of life assessed by AFEQT questionaire
(ELEVATE-AF X) EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) score change between baseline and 12 month12 monthQuality of life assessed by EQ-5D-5L scale
(ELEVATE-AF X) freedom from any documented atrial arrhythmias lasting more than 30 seconds and atrial fibrillation burden12 month
(ELEVATE-X) Change from baseline to 12 months in the 6-minute walk distance12 months

Countries

China

Contacts

CONTACTliu HE, MD
theliu@139.com+86 13810720787
CONTACTCaihua Sang, MD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChangsheng Ma, MD

Beijing Anzhen Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORCaihua Sang, MD

Beijing Anzhen Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 14, 2026