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Atrial FibrillationPhase 4EDORANCT04704050

Effect of Dronedarone on Atrial Fibrosis Progression and Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence

A Phase 4 study testing dronedarone 400 mg Oral Tablet in people with Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Fibrillation Recurrent, run by Tulane University School of Medicine at 4 sites in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

Patients who have undergone cardiac ablation will be randomized and blinded to one of two groups; one group will receive dronedarone while the other group will receive a placebo. The incidence of atrial fibrillation recurrence, as well as atrial fibrosis progression, will be analyzed between the two trial groups. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
dronedarone 400 mg Oral Tablet
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
22 participants
Where
4 sitesUnited States
Study dates
15 May 2021to 20 Dec 2022
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Inclusion Criteria: Patients must meet the following criteria to be enrolled in the trial.

  • Male or female patients aged over 18 years of age.
  • Patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation who are undergoing ablation of atrial fibrillation, regardless of whether they were receiving an anti-arrhythmic drug (AADs) before enrollment or not.

Exclusion Criteria: Patients will be excluded from enrollment if any of the following criteria are present.

  • Any health-related gadolinium/MRI contraindications (e.g. allergy to gadolinium, pacemakers, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators [ICD's], other devices/implants contraindicated for use of MRI, etc.).
  • Patients weighing >300 Ibs. (MRI quality decreases as BMI increases).
  • Patients with contraindications to dronedarone. (Including patients with decompensated heart failure or class NYHA IV (New York Heart Association Class IV), second or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block or sick-sinus syndrome [except when used in conjunction with a functioning pacemaker]), concomitant use of strong cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A (CYP-3A) inhibitors or other Class I or III AADs, drug or herbal products that prolongs the QT interval and may induce Torsades de Pointes.
  • Liver or lung toxicity related to the previous use of amiodarone, severe hepatic impairment including any stage of cirrhosis and acute liver failure, bradycardia <50bpm, QTc Bazett interval >500ms or PR interval >280ms, or hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of its excipients.
  • Acute or chronic severe renal disease with a low glomerular filtration rate (GFR), <30 mL per minute per 1.73m2 will be excluded from the trial.
  • Patients with a history of prior left atrial ablation or valvular cardiac surgery (myocardial scarring/fibrosis from prior surgeries may confound data).
  • Pre-menopausal (last menstruation <1 year prior to screening) who:
  1. are pregnant or breast-feeding or plan to become pregnant during the study period or,
  2. are not surgically sterile or,
  3. are of childbearing potential and not practising two acceptable methods of birth control or,
  4. do not plan to continue practising two acceptable methods of birth control throughout the trial (highly effective methods of birth control are defined as those, used alone, or in combination, that result in a low failure rate i.e. less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly).
  • Patients who do not have access to the Internet/e-mail.
  • Patients without daily access to a smart phone-compatible with ECG Check device application and ability to upload ECG tracings for the entire follow-up period.
  • Patients unable or unwilling to return to the clinic for follow up CMR scans.
  • Patients with cognitive impairments who are unable to give informed consent.

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country.

United States4 sites

  • Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322

  • University of Colorado Health Memorial

    Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80909

  • Baylor College of Medicine

    Houston, Texas, 77030

  • Tulane University School of Medicine

    New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Effect of Dronedarone on Atrial Fibrosis Progression and Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Post Ablation: The EDORA Trial

Patients who have undergone cardiac ablation will be randomized and blinded to one of two groups; one group will receive dronedarone while the other group will receive a placebo. The incidence of atrial fibrillation recurrence, as well as atrial fibrosis progression, will be analyzed between the two trial groups.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this trial is to determine whether dronedarone is effective in slowing the progression of fibrosis and decreasing atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients who have undergone ablation therapy.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing ablation will be stratified by age and gender (>65 years and <65 years, male and female) as well as by type of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal, persistent, etc.) and then randomized to one of two trial groups. They will either receive dronedarone 400 mg BID (twice daily) (treatment group) or placebo (control group). The control group will be started on placebo, and treating physicians will be advised to limit the initiation of anti-arrhythmic drugs (standard of care, SOC) to necessary cases only, avoiding amiodarone and dronedarone.

Each patient will receive a pre-ablation Cardiac Magnetic Resonance imaging (CMR) (SOC) scan, followed by scans at 3 and 12-month post-ablation. Quality of Life (QoL) changes will be evaluated from baseline and at 3 months and 12-months via the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-Of-Life (AFEQT) online questionnaire form. AF burden (frequency, duration and severity of an AF episode) if present, will be evaluated from baseline and at 3 months and 12-months via the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS) online questionnaire form.

Patients will be followed post-ablation for AF recurrence and burden assessment with a continuous 30-day ECG wearable patch starting at discharge (SOC), then at 3,6,9 and 12 months post-ablation

Phone call visits will occur at 6 and 9 months to monitor for medication compliance as well as to assess that devices are working accordingly. Evaluation of adverse events (AE's) as well as whether a patient has reached any trial endpoints will be analyzed at this time.

Physicians will be advised to avoid adjustments in drug therapy unless necessary (severely symptomatic patients, patients with heart failure). Severely symptomatic patients will be defined as, patients with non-tolerated palpitations or chest pain, dizziness, syncope, dyspnea, or suddenly reduced ability to exercise.

Any initiation or change of an anti-arrhythmic treatment in the treatment or control group will be considered as a secondary endpoint. Patients will continue to be monitored for fibrosis progression and AF burden via CMR scans and ECG wearable devices until the end of the follow-up period. In the case of AF recurrence after ablation, anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) initiation or change will be left to the discretion of the treating physician.

Being tested
dronedarone 400 mg Oral Tablet, Placebo
Keywords
Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Fibrillation Recurrent, Heart Murmur, Dronedarone, Atrial Fibrosis, Atrial Fibrosis Progression, Atrial Fibrosis Regression, Atrial Arrhythmia, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Events, Multaq
Medical subject headings
Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Murmurs, Arrhythmias, Cardiac

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • dronedarone 400 mg Oral TabletDrug

    Also called Multaq®

    Dronedarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug with properties belonging to Vaughan-Williams class I-IV.

    Participants will receive dronedarone 400 mg tablet, to be taken orally and twice daily for 52 weeks.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Participants will receive a placebo tablet matching the physical appearance of dronedarone, to be taken orally and twice daily for 52 weeks.

Study groups in NCT04704050
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Treatment GroupActive comparatorDronedarone 400 mg orally, twice per day (BID)
Receives: Drug: dronedarone 400 mg Oral Tablet
Control GroupPlacebo comparatorPlacebo tablet orally, twice per day (BID)
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Post-ablation Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence

    Investigators monitored subjects upon discharge, 24-48 hours after AF ablation. This was recorded by either the occurrence of a single positive atrial arrhythmias (AA) ECG reading on a 12-lead ECG, Holter monitor, obtained on the daily event strips from the Preventice monitoring device, or 30-day monitoring patch.

    Measured: Up to 56 weeks. From date of ablation until the date of first documented Atrial Fibrillation recurrence, whichever came first, assessed up to 56 weeks.

  2. Post-ablation Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Documented by an AAD Initiation

    New anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) initiation for AF recurrence after AF ablation, including initiation of the treatment during the blanking period, or with no available positive ECG reading.

    Measured: Up to 56 weeks. From date of ablation until the date of first documented Atrial Fibrillation recurrence, whichever came first, assessed up to 56 weeks.

Secondary outcomes (6)

  1. Atrial Fibrillation Episodes

    Atrial arrhythmia (AA) episodes associated with palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, dizziness, syncope, or unusual fatigue and weakness were assessed using the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS) questionnaire. The AFSS is a validated questionnaire designed to measure the burden of atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and other irregular heart rhythms. The AA symptom burden score is derived from the AFSS summary score, which averages the frequency, duration, and patient-perceived severity of AA episodes.

    The AFSS symptom burden score ranges from 3 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater AA burden. Subscale scores (frequency, duration, and severity) are each rated on a scale of 1 to 10 and are averaged to calculate the total burden score.

    Patients completed the AFSS at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Reported data in the results table reflect the mean score at the 12-month time point.

    Measured: At baseline, at month 3, at month 12

  2. Repeat Cardiac Ablation

    Whether patients in either treatment arm require a repeat cardiac ablation.

    Measured: 1 year

  3. Cardioversion

    Whether patients in either treatment arm require cardioversion.

    Measured: 1 year

  4. Atrial Fibrillation Burden

    The percentage of time a patient is in atrial fibrillation during the monitoring period, 24-48 hours and, at 3 months and 12 months post-ablation. Burden will be recorded as a time-weighted average (%) based on data from wearable devices.

    Measured: 1 year

  5. Quality of Life (Online Questionnaire Form)

    Quality of life (QoL) was assessed through the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS), a validated instrument that evaluates the impact of AF across multiple domains, including symptom burden, health care utilization, and overall well-being.

    The Global Well-being domain of the AFSS is assessed using a single-item question (A4), which measures overall quality of life on a scale from 1 to 10, where higher scores indicate better quality of life.

    Patients completed the questionnaire at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. The reported data in the results table reflect the mean score at the 12-month time point.

    Measured: At baseline, at month 3, at month 12

  6. Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability]

    Assessment of adverse events related to treatment given. Evaluated at 3, 12 months visits and during 6 \& 9 month phone call visits.

    Measured: Through trial completion, up to 56 weeks.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Jan 2021
  2. Study start15 May 2021
  3. Primary completion20 Dec 2022
  4. Study completion20 Dec 2022

Why it stopped: Sponsor withdrew funding

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
22 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04704050
Sponsor's protocol ID
2830294
Acronym
EDORA
Status last verified
Oct 2025
First submitted
5 Jan 2021
Last updated
30 Oct 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Hagens VE, Ranchor AV, Van Sonderen E, Bosker HA, Kamp O, Tijssen JG, Kingma JH, Crijns HJ, Van Gelder IC; RACE Study Group. Effect of rate or rhythm control on quality of life in persistent atrial fibrillation. Results from the Rate Control Versus Electrical Cardioversion (RACE) Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004 Jan 21;43(2):241-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2003.08.037.

    PubMed 14736444

  • Blomstrom-Lundqvist C, Gizurarson S, Schwieler J, Jensen SM, Bergfeldt L, Kenneback G, Rubulis A, Malmborg H, Raatikainen P, Lonnerholm S, Hoglund N, Mortsell D. Effect of Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Medication on Quality of Life in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The CAPTAF Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019 Mar 19;321(11):1059-1068. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0335.

    PubMed 30874754

  • Marrouche NF, Brachmann J, Andresen D, Siebels J, Boersma L, Jordaens L, Merkely B, Pokushalov E, Sanders P, Proff J, Schunkert H, Christ H, Vogt J, Bansch D; CASTLE-AF Investigators. Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation with Heart Failure. N Engl J Med. 2018 Feb 1;378(5):417-427. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1707855.

    PubMed 29385358

  • Packer DL, Mark DB, Robb RA, Monahan KH, Bahnson TD, Poole JE, Noseworthy PA, Rosenberg YD, Jeffries N, Mitchell LB, Flaker GC, Pokushalov E, Romanov A, Bunch TJ, Noelker G, Ardashev A, Revishvili A, Wilber DJ, Cappato R, Kuck KH, Hindricks G, Davies DW, Kowey PR, Naccarelli GV, Reiffel JA, Piccini JP, Silverstein AP, Al-Khalidi HR, Lee KL; CABANA Investigators. Effect of Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy on Mortality, Stroke, Bleeding, and Cardiac Arrest Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The CABANA Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019 Apr 2;321(13):1261-1274. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0693.

    PubMed 30874766

  • Marrouche NF, Wilber D, Hindricks G, Jais P, Akoum N, Marchlinski F, Kholmovski E, Burgon N, Hu N, Mont L, Deneke T, Duytschaever M, Neumann T, Mansour M, Mahnkopf C, Herweg B, Daoud E, Wissner E, Bansmann P, Brachmann J. Association of atrial tissue fibrosis identified by delayed enhancement MRI and atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: the DECAAF study. JAMA. 2014 Feb 5;311(5):498-506. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3.

    PubMed 24496537

  • Kheirkhahan M, Baher A, Goldooz M, Kholmovski EG, Morris AK, Csecs I, Chelu MG, Wilson BD, Marrouche NF. Left atrial fibrosis progression detected by LGE-MRI after ablation of atrial fibrillation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2020 Apr;43(4):402-411. doi: 10.1111/pace.13866.

    PubMed 31867751

  • Hohnloser SH, Crijns HJ, van Eickels M, Gaudin C, Page RL, Torp-Pedersen C, Connolly SJ; ATHENA Investigators. Effect of dronedarone on cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009 Feb 12;360(7):668-78. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0803778.

    PubMed 19213680

  • Akoum N, Fernandez G, Wilson B, Mcgann C, Kholmovski E, Marrouche N. Association of atrial fibrosis quantified using LGE-MRI with atrial appendage thrombus and spontaneous contrast on transesophageal echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2013 Oct;24(10):1104-9. doi: 10.1111/jce.12199. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

    PubMed 23844972

  • Marrouche NF, Dagher L, Wazni O, Akoum N, Mansour M, El Hajjar AH, Bhatnagar A, Hua H; EDORA Investigators. Effect of DrOnedarone on atrial fibrosis progression and atrial fibrillation recurrence postablation: Design of the EDORA randomized clinical trial. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2021 Dec;32(12):3203-3210. doi: 10.1111/jce.15274. Epub 2021 Nov 2.

    PubMed 34664772

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing dronedarone 400 mg Oral Tablet in people with Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Fibrillation Recurrent, run by Tulane University School of Medicine at 4 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 16 Oct 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Post-ablation Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence (time frame: Up to 56 weeks. From date of ablation until the date of first documented Atrial Fibrillation recurrence, whichever came first, assessed up to 56 weeks.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04704050, which also lists 9 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Oct 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.

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