Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Objective. Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) is a relevant clinical problem. Methods. 123 patients with paroxysmal AF will be identified and screened for participation in this randomized, prospective, double blind, controlled placebo multicenter trial. 109 patients will be randomly assigned and enrolled in the study trial. Enrolled patients will receive magnetic atrial resonance and then will be treated by CA to receive pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In this patients cytokines, inflammatory markers, and biomarkers such as ST2 protein and B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) will be evaluated at baseline, after CA, and during follow up. These biomarkers will be correlated to clinical outcomes (AF recurrences and heart failure progression and hospitalizations), and to fibrotic atrium extension as evaluated by magnetic resonance.