Table 1 MACPAF: Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

• Patients with ECG-documented symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

• At least one ineffective antiarrhythmic drug treatment

• Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 75 years

Exclusion criteria

• Previous ablation procedure for AF

• Cardiac surgery ≤ 3 months

• Left atrial diameter > 50 mm or ejection fraction < 35%

• Instable coronary artery disease or clinically relevant cardiac valve insufficiency

• Hyperthyroidism, pregnancy or lactation

• Coumadin or heparin intolerance

• Concomitant disease with expected lifespan < 2 years

• Contraindications for MRI

• Acute cerebral infarction (DWI lesion) detected by brain MRI before LACA