ArticleJournal of cardiovascular electrophysiology2025
Multielectrode Radiofrequency Balloon Catheter for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Results From the Global, Multicenter, STELLAR Study.
Article in Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03683030 (Safety and Effectiveness Evaluation of the Multi-Electrode Radiofrequency Balloon Catheter for the Treatment of Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Safety and Effectiveness Evaluation of the Multi-Electrode Radiofrequency Balloon Catheter for the Treatment of Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (STELLAR)
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20 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe safety and efficacy of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation with the HELIOSTAR multielectrode radiofrequency (RF) balloon catheter have been demonstrated in European studies; data from elsewhere are lacking. This prospective, multicenter study conducted in the United States, Italy, and China investigated the safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using HELIOSTAR in drug-refractory symptomatic PAF.
methodsThe primary effectiveness endpoint (PEE) was 12-month freedom from documented atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia plus freedom from acute procedural failure, nonstudy catheter failure, repeat ablation failure, direct current cardioversion (DCCV), and Class I/III antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) failure. The primary safety endpoint was the occurrence of early-onset primary adverse events (PAEs). Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cardiac computed tomography were performed in a patient subset to assess silent cerebral lesions (SCLs) and severe pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis, respectively.
resultsAcross 36 centers, 257 eligible subjects in the main phase had the study catheter inserted. Acute PVI was achieved in all subjects, with the majority (94.1%) using the balloon catheter only. In 67.7% and 92.2% of subjects, respectively, PEE and freedom from repeat ablation were met; clinical success rate was 77.7%. The PAE rate was 5.1%. One of 15 (6.7%) subjects with MRI showed a new SCL at 1 month postablation, which resolved at 3 months. Clinically meaningful improvements in Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life scores were seen at 3 months and were sustained to 12 months postablation, and accompanied with reduction of Class I/III AAD use and DCCV.
conclusionSTELLAR confirmed the safety and efficacy of the HELIOSTAR catheter for PVI, with clinically meaningful improvements in quality of life in patients with drug-refractory symptomatic PAF. Most PVIs were achieved without focal touch-up, and > 90% of patients were free from repeat ablation at 12 months.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03683030.
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