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Home › Conditions › Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Part of Atrial Fibrillation

4 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

46 trials tracked for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: 6 in phase 3 or 4 and 2 with published results. The most-cited published study has 212 citations.

46Trials tracked
6Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
2With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 3 Phase 3 3 Phase 2 2 Other / NA 38
  1. Phase 3 HeartLight Ablation in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF) Completed · 212 cited
  2. Phase 4 Evaluation of VISITAG SURPOINT™ Module With External Processing Unit (EPU) Completed · 28 cited
  3. Phase 4 NAVISTAR® THERMOCOOL® Catheter Post Approval Registry Completed
  4. Phase 4 Ablation of the Pulmonary Veins for Paroxysmal Afib Completed
  5. Phase 3 Clinical Study of the CardioFocus Endoscopic Ablation System for the Treatment of Symptomatic AF Completed
  6. Phase 3 A Clinical Study of the Arctic Front Cryoablation Balloon for the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
Show 40 more trials
  1. Phase 2 REVOLUTION (WFCC-133) - Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  2. Phase 2 Clinical Study of the CardioFocus Endoscopic Ablation System - Adaptive Contact (EAS-AC) for the Treatment of Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  3. N/A Clinical Study for Safety and Acute Performance Evaluation of the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH® SF-5D System Used With Fast Ablation Mode in Treatment of Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Completed
  4. N/A AF Septal Pacing (Clinical Investigation Plan) Completed
  5. N/A LSI (Lesion Index) Workflow Observational Study Completed
  6. N/A Cryoballoon PVI With PWI Versus PVI Alone In Patients With PAF Completed
  7. N/A TactiSense IDE Trial of TactiCath SE for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  8. N/A TactiFlex Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation IDE Trial Completed
  9. N/A Randomized Evaluation of Redo Ablation Procedures of Atrial Fibrillation With FIRM Guided Procedures Completed
  10. N/A A Safety and Feasibility Study of the FARAPULSE Endocardial Ablation System to Treat Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  11. N/A A Study Assessing Arrhythmia Mapping With the Multi-Electrode OPTRELL™ Mapping Catheter Completed
  12. N/A The FARAPULSE FARA-Freedom Trial Completed
  13. N/A Evaluation of QDOT MICRO™ Catheter for Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Subjects With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  14. N/A PEFCATII Expanded Safety and Feasibility Study of the FARAPULSE Endocardial Multi Ablation System to Treat Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  15. N/A TactiCath Contact Force Ablation Catheter Study for Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  16. N/A DiamondTemp™ Ablation System for the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  17. N/A A Study Assessing Arrhythmia Mapping With a Globe-Shaped, High-Density, Multi-Electrode Mapping Catheter Completed
  18. N/A A RWS of the FARAPULSE in A Chinese Population With PAF Completed
  19. N/A Irrigated Ablation System Evaluation for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Completed
  20. N/A POLARx™ Cardiac Cryoablation System Post Market Clinical Study (POLAR SMART) Completed
  21. N/A Efficacy of Personalized Exercise Program and Trimetazidine in Rehabilitation of Patients After RFA of AF Completed
  22. N/A FIRE AND ICE Re-Ablations (Retrospective Data Collection) Completed
  23. N/A A Single Arm Pilot Study of Pulsed Field Ablation in the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  24. N/A Effect of Treatment of Sleep Apnea in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  25. N/A Prospective Evaluation of Open Irrigated Ablation Catheters With High Resolution Mapping to Treat Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  26. N/A Navi-Star Thermo-Cool Catheter For Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  27. N/A TactiCath® Contact Force Ablation Catheter Study for Atrial Fibrillation Post Approval Study Completed
  28. N/A Clinical Evaluation of the StablePoint Catheter and Force Sensing System for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  29. N/A HD Mapping of Atrial Fibrillation in Asia Pacific Completed
  30. N/A Electrical Coupling Information From The Rhythmia HDx System And DirectSense Technology In Subjects With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  31. N/A Automated Assessment of PVI Using a Novel EP Recording System Completed
  32. N/A IMPACT: A Safety and Feasibility Study of the IOWA Approach Cardiac Ablation System Completed
  33. N/A Boston Scientific's Cryoballoon in the Treatment of Symptomatic Drug Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  34. N/A Individualized Studies of Triggers of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  35. N/A IMPULSE: A Safety and Feasibility Study of the IOWA Approach Endocardial Ablation System to Treat Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  36. N/A A Feasibility Study to Evaluate the Effect of Concomitant Renal Denervation and Cardiac Ablation on AF Recurrence Completed
  37. N/A The FARAPULSE ADVENT PIVOTAL Trial PFA System vs SOC Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Completed
  38. N/A A Study of Intracardiac Ultrasound With the NUVISION NAV Ultrasound Catheter Completed
  39. N/A High-Density (HD) Wave Mapping in Subjects With Atrial Fibrillation as a Predictor of Recurrence After a Single Ablation Procedure Using a PVI-Only Strategy Completed
  40. N/A Multi-electrode Radiofrequency Balloon Catheter Use for the Isolation of the Pulmonary Veins. Completed

Showing the 46 most-cited and recently-updated of 46 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found Updated — new results For clinicians

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: what the trials found

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) using the FARAPULSE system has demonstrated significant results in treatment success for atrial fibrillation. One study showed a statistically significant difference in primary effectiveness treatment success (p=0.025) 15, while another reported that 121 of 180 patients were free from chronic treatment failure and recurrence of symptomatic arrhythmias at 12 months 16. Safety data for the FARAPULSE system indicated zero procedure-related serious adverse events (SAEs) within 7 days in one cohort 14, with high rates of patients remaining free from device-related SAEs in another 16.

Cryoablation and other ablation techniques show established safety and efficacy profiles. A trial comparing cryoablation to medical management showed significantly higher treatment success (p<0.0001) and freedom from major atrial fibrillation events (p<0.001) 7. Additionally, RF ablation has been shown to improve patient quality of life scores (SF-36) and reduce symptom severity scores at 6 months post-procedure 4.

Clinical trials have established that certain ablation procedures result in high rates of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). For example, one study reported a 98.8% to 100% success rate for PVI at the end of the procedure using specific catheter techniques 2. Furthermore, some studies indicate that atrial fibrillation ablation results in low rates of primary adverse events within seven days (3.2% to 6.4%) 3.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • Boston Scientific Cardiac Cryoablation System 10
  • Cryoballoon ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation 11
  • Boston Scientific Open Irrigated Ablation Catheters: 368 patients were safety event-free at 12 months, while 218 were effectiveness event-free 1.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Pulsed Field Ablation (FARAPULSE) is an established intervention with demonstrated superiority in treatment success and high rates of freedom from chronic failure at 12 months.
  • Cryoablation shows significant clinical advantages over medical management regarding both immediate treatment success and long-term freedom from major atrial fibrillation events.
  • Ablation procedures, including RF ablation, are associated with measurable improvements in patient quality of life and reduction in symptom severity.

AI synthesis of 10 cited trials, updated Jun 21, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Nurse-led lifestyle interventions improve quality of life and reduce AF recurrence after ablation
Cardiology RCT
Nurse-led lifestyle interventions improve quality of life and reduce AF recurrence after ablation Nurse-led care reduces AF recurrence and boosts quality of life after ablation
This randomized controlled trial of 160 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation found that nurse-led …
Patients receiving nurse-led lifestyle support after heart rhythm surgery had fewer AF recurrences and better quality of life than those rec…
May 1, 2026
Cryoballoon ablation reduces PV automaticity retention compared to radiofrequency ablation in PAF
Cardiology RCT
Cryoballoon ablation reduces PV automaticity retention compared to radiofrequency ablation in PAF Ablation times differ but rhythm return looks the same for both methods
This RCT in 100 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing initial catheter ablation found that cryoballoon ablation (CBA) resu…
Two common heart rhythm procedures show similar success rates for stopping fast beats, even though one takes longer and uses more X-ray time…
May 1, 2026
Intraprocedural atrial tachycardia incidence and 12-month outcomes after RFCA for paroxysmal AF
Cardiology Cohort
Intraprocedural atrial tachycardia incidence and 12-month outcomes after RFCA for paroxysmal AF Patients with atrial tachycardia during ablation have similar long-term rhythm success to others
This single-center prospective cohort study of 255 patients undergoing RFCA for paroxysmal AF found an intraprocedural atrial tachycardia in…
Atrial tachycardia found during heart rhythm procedures does not predict worse long-term outcomes for patients undergoing treatment for paro…
Frontiers Apr 22, 2026
Pulsed field ablation shows similar efficacy to radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal AF
Cardiology RCT
Pulsed field ablation shows similar efficacy to radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal AF Is pulsed field ablation better for AFib? New study finds it matches standard treatment
A multicenter RCT of 289 patients with drug-resistant paroxysmal AF found no significant difference in 12-month single-procedure success bet…
A new heart procedure for AFib works as well as the standard, with 77% of patients free from recurrence after a year and fewer serious event…
Apr 2, 2026

Research across Atrial Fibrillation

Related studies from across the Atrial Fibrillation family.

Conscious or deep sedation reduces procedural time in pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Conscious or deep sedation reduces procedural time in pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation Comparing Sedation and General Anesthesia for Pulsed Field Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
This meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 3,692 patients found that conscious or deep sedation (CS/DS) significantly shortened overall proc…
Doctors are finding that using light sedation instead of full general anesthesia can speed up heart procedures without hurting safety.
Frontiers Oct 24, 2026
Yangxin Dingji plus conventional therapy reduces 6-month atrial fibrillation recurrence and improves LVEF
Drug Pipeline Meta-analysis
Yangxin Dingji plus conventional therapy reduces 6-month atrial fibrillation recurrence and improves LVEF Yangxin Dingji Combined With Standard Care Shows Promise for Atrial Fibrillation
This meta-analysis of 872 patients evaluated Yangxin Dingji (YXDJ) as an adjunct to conventional therapy for atrial fibrillation. The study …
Adding Yangxin Dingji to standard treatment may improve symptoms and reduce the risk of heart rhythm recurrence in patients with atrial fibr…
Frontiers Oct 16, 2026
Left atrial appendage occlusion reduces non-procedure-related bleeding but may increase ischemic stroke risk
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Left atrial appendage occlusion reduces non-procedure-related bleeding but may increase ischemic stroke risk LAAO Procedure Shows Mixed Results Compared to Oral Anticoagulants
This meta-analysis of 5,890 randomized patients evaluated left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) compared to oral anticoagulation for atrial…
A procedure called LAAO can reduce certain types of bleeding but may increase stroke risk compared to standard oral medications for heart pa…
Frontiers Oct 15, 2026
Mortality Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation: Umbrella Review Findings
Cardiology Sys. Review
Mortality Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation: Umbrella Review Findings Specific risk factors linked to higher death rates in atrial fibrillation
An umbrella review found 86 of 216 risk factors significantly linked to mortality in atrial fibrillation, including several medications and …
New data identifies specific medications and health conditions that may increase the risk of death for people living with atrial fibrillatio…
Frontiers Oct 13, 2026
Vascular closure devices reduce time to hemostasis by 5.63 minutes in atrial fibrillation ablation
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Vascular closure devices reduce time to hemostasis by 5.63 minutes in atrial fibrillation ablation Vascular closure devices speed up bleeding control in heart procedures
This meta-analysis of 30,560 patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation found that vascular closure devices (VCDs) significantly reduc…
New data shows that vascular closure devices help stop bleeding faster during atrial fibrillation procedures, though they do not change disc…
Oct 9, 2026
Empiric superior vena cava isolation reduces atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence compared to pulmonary vein isolation alone
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Empiric superior vena cava isolation reduces atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence compared to pulmonary vein isolation alone Adding a specific step can reduce heart rhythm issues
This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluated superior vena cava isolation (SVCI) as an adjunct to pulmonary vein isolation (…
Adding a technique called superior vena cava isolation can significantly lower the chances of heart rhythm issues returning after surgery.
Oct 7, 2026
Single transseptal puncture is a safe alternative to double puncture for atrial fibrillation ablation
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Single transseptal puncture is a safe alternative to double puncture for atrial fibrillation ablation Single Transseptal Puncture Is Safe for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
This meta-analysis of 1811 patients evaluated single versus double transseptal puncture during atrial fibrillation ablation. The analysis fo…
A single transseptal puncture is a safe alternative to double puncture during atrial fibrillation procedures, despite taking more time to co…
Frontiers Oct 7, 2026
Extended rhythm monitoring identifies 64% of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in patients on BTKi therapy
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Extended rhythm monitoring identifies 64% of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in patients on BTKi therapy BTK Inhibitors Linked to Hidden Heart Rhythm Problem in Cancer Patients
This meta-analysis of 2839 patients with hematologic malignancies treated with Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) found an overall a…
A meta-analysis of 2,839 patients found that 14% of atrial fibrillation cases during BTK inhibitor therapy had no symptoms.
Oct 2, 2026
Remote ischemic preconditioning reduces postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients with specific genetic risk factors
Cardiology RCT
Remote ischemic preconditioning reduces postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients with specific genetic risk factors Trial Shows Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Reduces Heart Rhythm Issues
Researchers investigated the impact of remote ischemic preconditioning on patients with a specific genetic profile undergoing coronary arter…
A new trial shows that a specific preconditioning technique may reduce the risk of heart rhythm problems after heart bypass surgery.
Oct 1, 2026
Intracardiac echocardiography is a safe, non-inferior alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for atrial fibrillation ablation
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Intracardiac echocardiography is a safe, non-inferior alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for atrial fibrillation ablation Intracardiac echocardiography shows safety and efficiency in atrial fibrillation procedures
This meta-analysis of 7,671 patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation found no significant difference between intracardi…
New data shows that intracardiac echocardiography is a safe and effective alternative to traditional imaging during atrial fibrillation hear…
Sep 30, 2026
Atrial fibroblast metabolic reprogramming is a candidate mechanism for multicellular atrial cardiomyopathy in atrial fibrillation
Cardiology Sys. Review
Atrial fibroblast metabolic reprogramming is a candidate mechanism for multicellular atrial cardiomyopathy in atrial fibrillation Metabolic Changes in Heart Cells May Link to Atrial Fibrillation
This narrative review evaluates atrial fibroblast metabolic reprogramming as a potential mechanism for atrial cardiomyopathy. While studies …
New research explores how changes in cell metabolism might drive heart tissue scarring and irregular heartbeats in conditions like atrial fi…
Frontiers Sep 28, 2026
Antidepressant use is associated with a 1.34 increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Antidepressant use is associated with a 1.34 increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death Antidepressant use linked to higher risk of sudden cardiac death
This meta-analysis of 9,619,278 patients found that antidepressant use, including SSRIs and TCAs, is associated with a significantly increas…
A massive study of over 9 million people shows a link between antidepressant use and a higher risk of serious heart rhythm problems.
Sep 24, 2026

Questions about Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Are there differences in success rates between pulsed field and radiofrequency ablation?

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have similar success rates for paroxysmal AF, but PFA may have a different safety profile.

Full answer →
Can lifestyle interventions improve quality of life after paroxysmal AF ablation?

Yes, nurse-led lifestyle interventions (exercise, diet, medication adherence, psychological support) significantly improve quality of life after paroxysmal AF ablation, based on randomized trial evidence.

Full answer →
Does pulsed field ablation work as well as radiofrequency ablation?

Yes, pulsed field ablation (PFA) works as well as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, with similar success rates and a possibly lower risk of serious complications.

Full answer →
What is the risk of atrial tachycardia during radiofrequency ablation?

About 13% of patients develop atrial tachycardia during radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal AF, usually around the tricuspid or mitral valve; it does not affect 12-month success rates.

Full answer →