in-Silico TRials guide optimal stratification of ATrIal FIbrillation patients to Catheter Ablation and pharmacological medicatION: The i-STRATIFICATION study
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Background and Aims
Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) experience 50% recurrence despite pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), and no consensus is established for second treatments. The aim of our i-STRATIFICATION study is to provide evidence for stratifying patients with AF recurrence after PVI to optimal pharmacological and ablation therapies, through in-silico trials.
Methods
A cohort of 800 virtual patients, with variability in atrial anatomy, electrophysiology, and tissue structure (low voltage areas, LVA), was developed and validated against clinical data from ionic currents to ECG. Virtual patients presenting AF post-PVI underwent 13 secondary treatments.
Results
Sustained AF developed in 522 virtual patients after PVI. Second ablation procedures involving left atrial ablation alone showed 55% efficacy, only succeeding in small right atria (<60mL). When additional cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation was considered, Marshall-Plan sufficed (66% efficacy) for small left atria (<90mL). For bigger left atria, a more aggressive ablation approach was required, such as anterior mitral line (75% efficacy) or posterior wall isolation plus mitral isthmus ablation (77% efficacy). Virtual patients with LVA greatly benefited from LVA ablation in the left and right atria (100% efficacy). Conversely, in the absence of LVA, synergistic ablation and pharmacotherapy could terminate AF. In the absence of ablation, the patient’s ionic current substrate modulated the response to antiarrhythmic drugs, being the inward currents critical for optimal stratification to amiodarone or vernakalant.
Conclusion
In-silico trials identify optimal strategies for AF treatment based on virtual patient characteristics, evidencing the power of human modelling and simulation as a clinical assisting tool.
