ATLANTA, March 15 (Reuters) - A noninvasive procedure that freezes and kills problem-causing heart tissue was nearly 10 times better at eliminating a potentially serious heart rhythm disorder than conventional anti-arrhythmic drugs, researchers said on Monday.
The clinical trial of Medtronic Inc's cryoablation system looked at 245 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, a condition marked by intermittent episodes abnormal heart rhythm that cause the upper chambers of the heart to quiver.
Patients who underwent the cryoablation procedure -- which involves using a catheter to freeze away the heart tissue where the problem originates -- was just as safe as drugs used to treat the condition and far more effective, meeting the study's primary goal of eliminating atrial fibrillation at 1 year.
Dubbed STOP-AF, Medtronic-sponsored trial showed that almost 70 percent of patients who had cryoablation remained free of the condition after one year, compared with just 7 percent of patients who received drug therapy, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Atlanta.
(Reporting by Debra Sherman and Bill Berkrot; Editing by Derek Caney) Keywords: HEART MEDTRONIC/AFIB (debra.sherman@thomsonreuters.com; + 312 408 8134; Reuters Messaging: debra.sherman.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The clinical trial of Medtronic Inc's cryoablation system looked at 245 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, a condition marked by intermittent episodes abnormal heart rhythm that cause the upper chambers of the heart to quiver.
Patients who underwent the cryoablation procedure -- which involves using a catheter to freeze away the heart tissue where the problem originates -- was just as safe as drugs used to treat the condition and far more effective, meeting the study's primary goal of eliminating atrial fibrillation at 1 year.
Dubbed STOP-AF, Medtronic-sponsored trial showed that almost 70 percent of patients who had cryoablation remained free of the condition after one year, compared with just 7 percent of patients who received drug therapy, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Atlanta.
(Reporting by Debra Sherman and Bill Berkrot; Editing by Derek Caney) Keywords: HEART MEDTRONIC/AFIB (debra.sherman@thomsonreuters.com; + 312 408 8134; Reuters Messaging: debra.sherman.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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