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Heart Disease Structural DisorderCAAD-VTNCT05524077

Catheter Ablation Versus Anti-arrhythmic Drugs for Ventricular Tachycardia

A study testing Ablation and Anti-arrhythmic Drugs (AADs) in people with Heart Disease Structural Disorder and Ventricular Tachycardia, run by Western Sydney Local Health District at 9 sites in Australia.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an important clinical sequela in patients with structural heart disease. VT generally occurs as a result of electrical re-entry in the presence of arrhythmogenic substrate (scar). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Ablation and Anti-arrhythmic Drugs (AADs)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
162 participants
Where
9 sitesAustralia
Study dates
8 Jul 2020to 30 Jun 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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

Who may be able to join

  • Patients will be eligible for inclusion if they have:
  • ≥1 prior episode of sustained VT in the prior 6 months;
  • Spontaneous VT: ≥1 episode of monomorphic VT treated by anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) and/or internal shock by an ICD; lasting ≥30 seconds in the absence of intra-cardiac device therapy that could either be self-terminating or require reversion by pharmacological therapy or external cardioversion;
  • Spontaneous VT: ≥1 episode of sustained spontaneous monomorphic VT lasting ≥30 seconds documented on Holter, ECG, Loop recorder or other cardiac monitoring device that could either be self-terminating or require reversion by pharmacological therapy or external cardioversion;
  • Inducible VT: with syncope or palpitations - inducible VT defined as sustained monomorphic VT of CL ≥200 ms lasting for ≥10 s during a cardiac electrophysiology study (note with 4 extrastimuli with or without provocation with isoprenaline);
  • Already a recipient of an implanted cardiac device such as a pacemaker, defibrillator or a cardiac resynchronisation therapy device and/or is indicated to receive one given a new diagnosis of structural heart disease, based on current guideline recommendations;
  • Aged ≥18 years.

Who cannot join

  • Patients will be excluded if they are:
  • Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or patients physician feels there is not significant equipoise to justify randomisation;
  • Women who are pregnant, breast feeding;
  • Medical illness with an anticipated life expectancy <3 months;
  • Unable to complete study procedures or unwilling to be followed up;
  • Have a concomitant illness, physical impairment or mental condition which in the opinion of the study team/ primary care physician could interfere with the conduct of the study including outcome assessments;
  • Known channelopathy such as long QT, short QT, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic VT;
  • Known prior diagnosis of no structural heart disease, or idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia.

Trial locations and contacts

9 sites in 1 country.

9 sites in 1 country

Australia9 sites
  • Royal Adelaide Hospital

    Adelaide, South Australia, 5000

  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

    Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050

  • The Prince Charles Hospital

    Chermside, Queensland, 4032

  • Nepean Hospital

    Kingswood, New South Wales, 2747

  • The Alfred Hospital

    Melbourne, Victoria, 3004

  • John Hunter Hospital

    New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, 2305

  • Royal North Shore Hospital

    Saint Leonards, New South Wales, 2065

  • Gold Coast University Hospital

    Southport, Queensland, 4215

  • Westmead Hospital

    Westmead, New South Wales, 2145

Other trials in Australia

About this study

Official title: Catheter Ablation Versus Anti-arrhythmic Drugs for Ventricular Tachycardia (CAAD-VT): A Randomised Trial

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an important clinical sequela in patients with structural heart disease. VT generally occurs as a result of electrical re-entry in the presence of arrhythmogenic substrate (scar). Scar tissue forms due to an ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) from prior coronary obstructive disease or a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) from an inflammatory or genetic disease.

AADs can reduce VT recurrence, but have significant limitations in treatment of VT. For example, amiodarone has high rates of side effects/toxicities and a finite effective usage before recurrence. ICDs prevent cardiac arrest and sudden death from VT, but do not stop VT occurring. Recurrent VT and ICD therapies decrease QOL, increase hospital visits, mortality, morbidity and risk of death. Improvement in techniques for mapping and ablation of VT have made CA an alternative.

Read more

Currently, there is limited evidence to guide clinicians either toward AAD therapy or CA in patients with NICM. This data shows significant benefit of CA over medical therapy in terms of VT free survival, survival free of VT storm and VT burden. Observational studies suggest that CA is effective in eliminating VT in NICM patients who have failed AADs, resulting in reduction of VT burden and AAD use over long term follow up. Furthermore, there is limited data on the efficacy of CA in early ICM with VT, or advanced ICM with VT. RCT data is almost exclusively on patients with modest ICM with VT, and this is not representative of the real-world scenario of patients with structural heart disease presenting with VT.

Therefore the primary objective is to determine in all patients with structural heart disease and spontaneous or inducible VT, if catheter ablation compared to standard medical therapy with anti-arrhythmic drugs results in a reduction of a composite endpoint of recurrent VT, VT storm and death at a median follow up of 18 months.

Being tested
Ablation, Anti-arrhythmic Drugs (AADs)
Medical subject headings
Tachycardia, Ventricular, Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, Sarcoidosis, Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, Cardiomyopathies, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, Familial, 1

What participants receive

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

  • AblationProcedure or surgery

    Catheter ablation (CA) will be performed in the standard fashion (described in international guidelines for the Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death from the AHA/ACC/HRS and the expert consensus statement on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias from HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS). CA will be performed under conscious sedation or GA by an Electrophysiologist trained in cardiac arrhythmia ablation. CA will be guided by a combination of mapping techniques (standard practice), and described in guidelines for CA for VT. Mapping techniques will include pace, entrainment, activation, and electro-anatomic substrate mapping, where haemodynamically tolerated. Expected procedure duration is 3-6hrs.

    Post-CA, AAD is stopped if patient was drug naïve pre-randomisation. The baseline type/dose of AAD pre-randomisation is continued if the patient was on an AAD pre-randomisation. Repeat ablations are permitted within 30-days post-randomisation.

  • Anti-arrhythmic Drugs (AADs)Drug

    Standard care usually encompasses patients who have not previously had AADs, being commenced on sotalol 80mg twice/day. Lower doses may be initiated by treating doctor, as clinically indicated. If there is contraindication to sotalol, another beta-blocker may be initiated using standard doses. Clinicians may consider alternative AADs if there is contraindication to beta-blockers. Doses would be up titrated to the maximal tolerated amount.

    For patients already on an AAD, amiodarone would usually be added, as per VANISH trial.

    They will receive a loading dose 400mg twice/day for 2 weeks, followed by 400mg/day for 4 weeks and 200mg/day thereafter. Patients who have "failed" amiodarone dose <300mg/day will receive a repeat loading dose of 400mg twice/day for 2 weeks, followed by 400mg/day for 1 week, and 300mg/day thereafter.

    If the treating doctor decides to do a CA for VT, the occurrence and timepoint of cross-over will be recorded. Cross-over is estimated to be <2% (VANISH trial).

Study groups in NCT05524077
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AblationExperimentalPatients will be expected to have a catheter ablation procedure within 2 weeks post randomisation and no longer than 30 days post randomisation. Medical therapy can be used as a temporising measure before catheter ablation, as is standard of care. If there is breakthrough VT during the period before the clinical procedure, standard practice will be followed in stabilising the ventricular tachycardia (VT) including intravenous short acting anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD), admission to hospital, internal or external cardioversion. However, preference will be given to scheduling the procedure within 24-48 hours in this situation.
Receives: Procedure: Ablation
Anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD)Active comparatorPatients managed with medical therapy alone by their usual medical practitioners. A protocol aligned with standard clinical care/current clinical guidelines will be provided for guidance, the objective being that the control arm replicates what would constitute standard of care for patients with ventricular tachycardia managed with a non-interventional approach.
Receives: Drug: Anti-arrhythmic Drugs (AADs)

What is being measured

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

  1. Composite of Recurrent VT or VT storm

    VT (detected by cardiac device as lasting ≥30 seconds or shorter in duration if treated by the ICD).

    VT storm (three or more documented episodes of VT within 24 hours or incessant VT).

    Measured: Primary outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. VT/VT Storm events after the 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation will be included.

  2. Death

    Death (at any time) due to any cause.

    Measured: Primary outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. Death events at any time after randomisation will be included.

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Recurrent sustained VT

    Recurrent sustained VT detected by implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) (VT identified and treated by the ICD with anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) and/or internal ICD delivered shock or ≥30 seconds of VT if untreated by ICD)

    Measured: Outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. VT events will be included after the 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation.

  2. VT storm

    Three or more documented episodes of VT within 24 hours or incessant VT

    Measured: Outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. VT storm events will be included after the 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation.

  3. VT burden

    VT burden (number of episodes of VT in the preceding 6 months compared to the 6 months after randomisation and therapy)

    Measured: 6 months after randomisation, with a 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation; and 6 months before randomisation

  4. Cardiovascular hospitalisation

    All cardiovascular hospitalisation; heart failure; hospitalisation for arrhythmia

    Measured: Outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. Events will be included after the 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation.

  5. Mortality

    All-cause mortality; cardiovascular mortality; non-cardiac death

    Measured: Outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. Events will be included at any time after randomisation.

  6. Effect of intervention on ventricular function

    Effect of intervention on ventricular function as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography from baseline to 6-, 12-, 24- and 36-months' post intervention

    Measured: Outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. Events will be included after the 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted1 Sep 2022
  2. Study start8 Jul 2020
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
162 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05524077
Sponsor's protocol ID
CAAD-VT
Acronym
CAAD-VT
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
24 Aug 2022
Last updated
16 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Ablation and Anti-arrhythmic Drugs (AADs) in people with Heart Disease Structural Disorder and Ventricular Tachycardia, run by Western Sydney Local Health District at 9 sites in Australia.

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

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 9 sites in Australia. 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Composite of Recurrent VT or VT storm (time frame: Primary outcome will be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, 36- months post-randomisation. VT/VT Storm events after the 30-day treatment 'blanking' period after treatment initiation will be included.). 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?
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 16 Mar 2026.

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