PFA with a balloon-in-basket catheter caused a smaller leukocyte increase (0.6 vs 1.9 × 10^9/L; p=0.026) but greater CK increase (219.5 vs 97.0 U/L; p<0.001) compared to a pentaspline catheter.
Observational (n=80)
No
Does pulsed field ablation using a balloon-in-basket catheter compared to a pentaspline catheter alter inflammatory and myocardial biomarker responses in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Balloon-in-basket and pentaspline PFA catheters induce distinct inflammatory and myocardial biomarker profiles following pulmonary vein isolation, highlighting design-specific biological effects.
Absolute Event Rate: 0.6% vs 1.9%
p-value: p=0.026
AbstractBackground Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a non-thermal technique for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF), offering lesion selectivity with minimal collateral damage. Despite its non-thermal nature, systemic inflammatory and myocardial responses may occur. Catheter design could modulate these effects. Objective To compare inflammatory and myocardial biomarker responses after PFA using balloon-in-basket versus pentaspline catheter systems. Methods This prospective, non-randomized, single-center study involved venous blood sampling before and the morning after PFA-based PVI using either catheter type. Biomarkers analyzed included leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), platelets, troponin-T, creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, and myoglobin. Results Eighty patients were included (balloon-in-basket: n=40; pentaspline: n=40). Baseline characteristics were comparable. All patients achieved acute and first-pass PVI. The balloon-in-basket group required fewer PFA applications (16 vs. 32; p9/L, p=0.026; Δ CRP: 3.4 vs. 5.1 mg/L, p=0.074). Platelet count decreased more in the balloon-in-basket group (Δ −11 vs. −1 × 109/L; p=0.005), while CK increased more in this group (Δ 219.5 vs. 97.0 U/L; pConclusion Balloon-in-basket and pentaspline PFA catheters induce distinct inflammatory and myocardial biomarker profiles following PVI. The observed differences in leukocyte, CRP, and platelet responses highlight design-specific biological effects. These findings may support informed catheter selection and help guiding post-procedural monitoring strategies.
Wenzel et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=80). Balloon-in-basket pulsed field ablation catheter vs. Pentaspline pulsed field ablation catheter was evaluated on Change in leukocyte count (× 10^9/L) (p=0.026). PFA with a balloon-in-basket catheter caused a smaller leukocyte increase (0.6 vs 1.9 × 10^9/L; p=0.026) but greater CK increase (219.5 vs 97.0 U/L; p<0.001) compared to a pentaspline catheter.