Myopathy and neuropathy associated with nucleos(t)ide analog therapy for hepatitis B.
The development of clevudine as a treatment for hepatitis B was terminated recently because of case reports of myopathy. In each case, the onset of symptoms occurred between 8 and 13 months after the initiation of treatment. Electromyography and muscle biopsy confirmed the presence of myonecrosis. One report also found evidence of mitochondrial toxicity. The delayed onset and the finding of mitochondrial damage are reminiscent of fialuridine toxicity. Telbivudine has also been reported to be associated with myopathy and neuropathy, particularly when used in combination with pegylated interferon. These findings serve as a sober reminder of the lack of data on long-term safety of nucleos(t)ide analogs for hepatitis B, the importance of balancing benefits versus risks before initiating treatment, and the need for more stringent post-marketing surveillance for drug toxicities.
Fleischer
Russell D
RD
Division of Antiviral Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
Lok
Anna S F
AS
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001086:Arabinofuranosyluracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D055808:Drug Discovery; D057239:Early Termination of Clinical Trials; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000009:adverse effects; D017240:Mitochondrial Myopathies / Q000139:chemically induced; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000009:adverse effects; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000009:adverse effects; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000009:adverse effects; D056910:Republic of Korea; D000077712:Telbivudine; D013936:Thymidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009705:Nucleosides; D009711:Nucleotides; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D000077712:Telbivudine; D019259:Lamivudine; D001086:Arabinofuranosyluracil; D003402:Creatine Kinase; C034935:clevudine; D013936:Thymidine