[Systemic Bacillus Calmette-Guerin sepsis manifesting as autoimmunity, 17 months after an intravesical BCG-therapy]

Autoimmune disorders caused by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerine treatment: A systemic review

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a common and highly effective treatment for non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. BCG may cause an autoimmune reaction in some patients. One hundred and fifty-eight papers were analyzed, for a total of hundred and thirty patients with reactive arthritis, sixty patients with ocular manifestations and eighteen patients with other rheumatologic diseases. Among 130 subjects with reactive arthritis, an autoimmune symptom occurred after 5 instillations of intravesical BCG (IQR 4-6), which represents 5 weeks in most cases. Fifty-one patients had concurrent ocular involvement. The resolution of symptoms was achieved in a median of 32.5 days (IQR 14-90). Forty-two men and twenty women had ocular manifestations, most commonly conjunctivitis. Patients with HLA-B27 typing had earlier presentation of ocular symptoms related to the number of instillations (4.5 vs 6 [p < 0.05]. Resolution of symptoms was achieved at a median of 128 days (IQR 21-150). Among patients treated with NSAIDs (either with or without steroids), the duration of the disease was significantly shorter in both the articular and the ocular groups (28 vs. 120 [p < 0.05] and 30 vs.105 [p < 0.05], respectively). Other autoimmune manifestations included general autoimmune diseases, such as vasculitis, psoriasis and myasthenia gravis.

Muscular pseudotumor revealing a mycobacterial granuloma after bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

INTRODUCTION

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Intravesical therapy with BCG has long been proved to be effective in treating early-stage bladder carcinoma.

CASE REPORT

A 81-year-old male patient with former history of BCG instillations for bladder cancer two years ago was admitted in February 2020 to our department for a pulsatile and painful tumefaction of the right thigh that lasted for 6 months, due to a muscular M. bovis granuloma leading to femoral artery erosion. Emergency vascular surgery associated with prolonged antibiotherapy provided full recovery.

DISCUSSION

Late infectious complications of intravesical BCG instillations are classical but rare. Isolated muscular involvement is exceptional.

CONCLUSION

Mycobacterial infection should be carefully screened face to a granuloma presenting as muscular pseudotumor. A history of BCG therapy, even decades earlier, enhances this hypothesis and should lead to enforce microbiological testing, especially molecular test.