Trials & Research
The Electrophysiology Research Foundation has been involved in numerous clinical studies and research initiatives advancing the understanding and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
Selected Major Studies
Reanalysis of the AFFIRM Trial
Cardiovascular Outcomes in the AFFIRM Trial (Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management): An Assessment of Individual Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapies Compared With Rate Control With Propensity Score-Matched Analyses (Saksena S, Slee A, Waldo AL, et al.; J Am Coll Cardiol 2011;58:1975–85).
TOPCAT
Aldosterone antagonist in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Sponsor: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
SHIELD
Azimilide to Reduce Implantable Defibrillator Shock Therapy. Sponsor: Forest Research Institute.
EMERALD
Long-term outcomes of dual-chamber pacemakers. Sponsor: Sorin, Italy.
ICE-CHIP Study
A Prospective Comparison of Cardiac Imaging Using Intracardiac Echocardiography with Transesophageal Echocardiography in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology 2010;3:571–7). Study Chair: Dr. Sanjeev Saksena.
ABCD Trial
The ABCD (Alternans Before Cardioverter Defibrillator) Trial: Strategies Using T-Wave Alternans to Improve Efficiency of Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention (Costantini O, et al.; J Am Coll Cardiol 2009;53:471–9).
SAFE Study
A Prospective Randomized Study to Assess the Efficacy of Rate and Site of Atrial Pacing on Long-Term Development of Atrial Fibrillation (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2009).
Dual-Site Right Atrial Pacing (DAPPAF)
Improved suppression of recurrent atrial fibrillation with dual-site right atrial pacing and antiarrhythmic drug therapy (Saksena S, et al.; J Am Coll Cardiol 2002;40:1140–50).
Finished Trials (Selected List)
The Foundation and its investigators have participated in a wide range of earlier clinical trials. A partial list includes:
- Principal Investigator — Efficacy and safety of oral cibenzoline in sustained ventricular tachycardia (Hoffman-LaRoche, 1982)
- Principal Investigator — Comparative efficacy of oral cibenzoline and quinidine in ventricular arrhythmias (Hoffman-LaRoche, 1983)
- Principal Investigator — Efficacy of intravenous tocainide in ventricular arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction (1983–84)
- Principal Investigator — Efficacy of intravenous and oral nadolol in supraventricular tachycardia (Squibb, 1983–84)
- Principal Investigator — Long-term efficacy of oral indecainide in ventricular tachycardia (Eli Lilly, 1984)
- Principal Investigator — Efficacy of oral propafenone in ventricular arrhythmias (Knoll Pharmaceuticals, 1984)
- Principal Investigator — Comparative efficacy of milrinone, digoxin and placebo in congestive heart failure (Mead Johnson / Sterling Winthrop, 1985–87)
- Co-Principal Investigator — Electrophysiologic Study Versus Electrocardiographic Monitoring (ESVEM), NHLBI RO1, 1987–1992
- Planning & Steering Committee / Co-Principal Investigator — Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Trial, NIH, 1994–1998
- Principal Investigator — Dual-Site Atrial Pacing for Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation (Medtronic, 1994–2000)
- Planning & Steering Committee / Co-Principal Investigator — AFFIRM Trial, NIH, 1997–2002
- Co-Principal Investigator — Multicenter Automatic Implantable Defibrillator Trial II (MADIT II)
- Principal Investigator — Linear Radiofrequency Ablation of the Right Atrium in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (Cardima, 2000–2002)
- Study Chair — ICE-CHIP study (2005–)
- Steering Committee / Co-Investigator — TOPCAT trial, NHLBI (2005–)