A Randomized Controlled Trial of Sequential Pegylated Interferon-α and Telbivudine or <i>Vice Versa</i> for 48 Weeks in Hepatitis B E Antigen-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B

Abstract

Sequential treatment with 24 weeks PEG-IFN followed or preceded by 24 weeks of LdT is safe. Virological response rate at week 72 was significantly higher in patients treated with LdT followed by PEG-IFN than vice versa. A sequential antiviral regimen of LdT followed by PEG-IFN, if confirmed in larger series, could improve response rates compared with standard PEG-IFN monotherapy.