Gradually Increasing Pacing Impedances with Normal Sensing Values in Pacemaker and Defibrillation Leads: A Watchful Waiting Strategy.

Background: The increasing prevalence of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has led to greater data collection, including pacing impedance, a key measure of lead integrity and electrical function. While acute impedance changes may signal lead fractures or insulation defects, gradual increases are often linked to tissue-interface calcification. The optimal management of patients with progressively rising impedance remains uncertain.

Hybrid Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Association of Clinical Characteristics, Biomarkers, and Blanking Period with Recurrence.

Objectives: Hybrid atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a treatment for therapy-resistant, symptomatic AF. Limited data exist on the risk factors for failure of the procedure. Therefore, this study aimed to identify clinical factors and blood biomarkers associated with atrial arrhythmia recurrence within 2 years following hybrid ablation.

2025 International Expert Practical Guide on the Use of the Pentaspline Pulsed Field Ablation System in Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Procedures.

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has been developed as a largely nonthermal ablation technology with a unique biophysical profile to treat atrial fibrillation. Existing evidence has shown that PFA offers a safe and efficient atrial fibrillation ablation procedure. Among different PFA technologies, the pentaspline FARAPULSE system has been the most extensively used and investigated; however, notable variability exists in workflow, fluoroscopy time, and lesion durability.

Duration of atrial fibrillation and cardiac biomarkers are associated with cardiovascular outcomes in early permanent atrial fibrillation: Data from the RACE II study.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive disease and is associated with considerable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This post-hoc analysis of the RACE II study aimed to identify parameters associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in early permanent AF.

Methods And Results: Out of the 614 patients included in RACE II, 543 had biomarkers available at baseline and were included in the present analyses.

Patients' experiences of atrial fibrillation and comorbidity management in clinical practice: a pan-European qualitative descriptive interview study.

Objective: The objective is to explore patients' perceptions on the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and associated comorbidities.

Design: A descriptive qualitative study involving in-depth individual interviews, analysed using Braun and Clarke's approach to Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Setting: Cardiology departments in teaching hospitals in five geographically diverse European countries-Belgium, Greece, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands.

Multimorbidity increases risk of cardiovascular outcomes in permanent atrial fibrillation: Data from the RACE II study.

Introduction: Multimorbidity is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but data on its prevalence and impact in permanent AF is limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of multimorbidity and its association with cardiovascular outcomes in recent-onset permanent AF.

Methods: The RACE II study was a randomized controlled trial comparing strict and lenient rate-control in 614 patients with recent-onset permanent AF.

Pulsed-Field Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in EU-PORIA Registry.

Background: Real-life data on efficacy and safety of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) using the pentaspline multi-electrode catheter in symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is still scarce.

Objective: This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of PFA in patients with persistent AF.

Methods: Data from early commercial use across seven European centers were collected in a registry.

Evoked delayed potential ablation for post-myocardial infarction ventricular tachycardia: results from a large prospective multicentre study.

Aims: The optimal substrate ablation approach for post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular tachycardia (VT) is unknown. Proposed ablation targets are prone to individual interpretation making the ablation outcome potentially operator dependent. Evoked delayed potentials (EDPs) are a well-defined target.

Repeat procedures after pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation: MANIFEST-REDO study.

Aims: Initial clinical studies of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) indicated a >90% durability rate of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, these studies were largely conducted in single centres and involved a limited number of operators. We aimed to describe the electrophysiological findings and outcomes in patients undergoing repeat ablation after an initial PF ablation for AF.

Pulsed Field Ablation as First-Line Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation: A Substudy of the EU-PORIA Registry.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the benefit of early ablation in preventing the progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). Clinical practice has reflected this shift in AF management and no longer requires patients to fail antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) before receiving ablation. However, there is limited evidence on outcomes with pulsed field ablation (PFA) as a first-line therapy.

Physician Preferences in Using Novel Digital Devices for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation-A DAS-CAM III Survey.

Aim: A recent European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) practical guide provides guidance on the use of novel digital devices for heart rhythm analysis using either electrocardiogram (ECG) or photoplethysmography (PPG) technology for the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). This survey assesses physicians' preferences to use digital devices in patients with possible AF and their impact on clinical decision-making.

Methods And Results: Participants of the DAS-CAM III initiated and distributed an online survey assessing physician preferences in using digital devices for the management of AF in different clinical scenarios.

Safety and efficacy of pulsed-field ablation for atrial fibrillation in the elderly: A EU-PORIA sub-analysis.

Background: The role of catheter ablation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) demonstrates a favorable clinical profile, however, data on elderly patients are lacking.

Aims: We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of PFA in the elderly, using data from the EU-PORIA registry.

Dynamic biomarker profiles in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Assessing the differences between sinus rhythm and acute atrial fibrillation episode.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in adults, yet its underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood. This study assessed whether circulating biomarker concentrations differ in paroxysmal AF patients during an acute episode compared to sinus rhythm.

Methods: The Time of Calamity study is a prospective biomarker study within the RACE V study.

Participation of women in clinical studies of atrial fibrillation in the Northern Netherlands.

Introduction: Concerns exist of women underrepresentation in atrial fibrillation (AF) studies, potentially limiting the generalisability of study findings to women with AF. We assessed the participation of women in AF clinical studies performed at a tertiary care centre in the Northern Netherlands.

Methods: Eight AF clinical studies with screening logs were available for analysis.

Superior vena cava isolation using a pentaspline pulsed-field ablation catheter: feasibility and safety in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.

Aims: Superior vena cava (SVC) isolation during atrial fibrillation catheter ablation is limited by the risk of collateral damage to the sinus node and/or the phrenic nerve. Due to its tissue-specificity, we hypothesized the feasibility and safety of pulsed-field ablation (PFA)-based SVC isolation.

Methods And Results: One hundred and five consecutive patients undergoing PFA-based AF catheter ablation were prospectively included.

Safety and Effectiveness of Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Heart Failure: A MANIFEST-PF Sub-analysis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) coexist, increasing morbidity and mortality. Studies have demonstrated improved outcomes following AF ablation in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF).

Objective: To assess the outcomes of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) in HF.

Safety and Effectiveness of Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) coexist, increasing morbidity and mortality. Studies have demonstrated improved outcomes following AF ablation in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF).

Objective: This study sought to assess the outcomes of pulsed field ablation (PFA) in HF.

Sex Differences in Outcomes of Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator for the Secondary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death.

In patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention, sex differences may exist in clinical outcomes. We sought to investigate sex differences in appropriate ICD therapy, appropriate and inappropriate shock, and all-cause mortality in this patient population. A total of 257 patients who received an ICD for a secondary prevention indication in the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2018 were retrospectively included in a consecutive manner.

Comparing adolescent- and adult-onset unexplained cardiac arrest: Results from the Dutch Idiopathic VF Registry.

Background: Current cohorts of patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) primarily include adult-onset patients. Underlying causes of sudden cardiac arrest vary with age; therefore, underlying causes and disease course may differ for adolescent-onset vs adult-onset patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare adolescent-onset with adult-onset patients having an initially unexplained cause of VF.