Research ArticleTelbivudine plus pegylated interferon alfa-2a in a randomized study in chronic hepatitis B is associated with an unexpected high rate of peripheral neuropathy

Background & AimsThis study investigated the antiviral efficacy and safety of telbivudine in combination with pegylated interferon (PegIFN) alpha-2a in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.MethodsThis was a randomized, open-label, multicentre study, in treatment-naïve patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, comparing the efficacy and safety of telbivudine in combination with PegIFN alpha-2a with telbivudine monotherapy and PegIFN alpha-2a monotherapy. The study was terminated early due to increased rates of peripheral neuropathy in the combination-therapy group.ResultsOf the 159 patients randomized (from 300 planned) 50 were assigned to combination therapy, 55 to telbivudine, 54 to PegIFN, and 110 (18, 49, and 43, respectively) reached week 24. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 7/50, 1/54, and 0/54 patients in the three groups of safety populations, respectively. No relationship between the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy and other variables (e.g., pharmacokinetic data, treatment efficacy, ALT levels, creatine kinase elevations) were observed. At week 24, undetectable HBV DNA (<300 copies/ml) was achieved by 71% (12/17), 35% (17/48), and 7% (3/42) of patients, with available data receiving combination therapy, telbivudine monotherapy and PegIFN monotherapy, respectively (p = 0.022 for combination therapy vs. telbivudine; p <0.0001 for combination therapy vs. PegIFN).ConclusionsCombination therapy carried an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy. Despite the rapid and profound reductions in HBV DNA levels, combination therapy with telbivudine and PegIFN should not be used.