Hépatite granulomateuse révélant une infection disséminée à Mycobacterium bovis après BCG-thérapie intravésicale

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin pneumonitis after intravesical instillation: Report of two cases and a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin is standard adjuvant treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. In spite of the fact that this immunotherapy is locoregional, there are still risk of some complications.

METHODS

We describe two cases of systemic BCG infection after intravesical administration of BCG vaccine in patients with early stage of bladder cancer.

RESULTS

Both patients suffered from systemic BCG infection manifesting as BCG pneumonitis. After standard therapy with antituberculotic agents, both of them fully recovered.

CONCLUSION

BCG infection can occur as a rare but potentially serious complication of this treatment procedure. Gravity of this side effect and its specific therapy require prompt and right diagnosis.

Mechanisms of BCG in the treatment of bladder cancer-current understanding and the prospect

Over 30 years' successful application of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) to the clinical treatment of bladder cancer has proved it one of the most promising immunotherapies for cancer. However, the applications and achievements have failed to uncover the mechanism of BCG works on bladder cancer fully. Clinically, the administration of BCG on patients results in no effect, or apparent resistance, and even severe adverse reactions, which are inexplicable. At present, the widely confirmed and accepted immunity mechanism of BCG fall in the processes of the absorption after the instillation of BCG, the internalization of BCG, cytokine release induced by a series of signal transduction pathways, and the effect stage of innate and acquired immune responses. Nonetheless, the limited ascertainments of the mechanism of BCG action cannot fully explain the clinical phenomenon caused by BCG. Therefore, the other mechanisms of BCG action have remained the research hotspot aiming to explore more targeted treatments or to initiate new therapeutic methods avoiding harm. By summarizing the recent research achievements of the mechanism of BCG works on bladder cancer, this review aims to provide clues for researchers to quest more valuable ideas.

Managing the adverse events of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

This paper provides recommendations on the management of complications arising from intravesical treatment with bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) for nonmuscle-invasive bladder tumors. There is minimal recommendations currently available as randomized trials on the side effects of intravesical BCG are lacking and severe complications are usually described in case reports only. All physicians giving intravesical BCG should be aware of the possible complications that could arise and how to treat these. The incidence of bladder irritation, general malaise, and fever is very high, while severe complications remain rare. Approximately 8% of patients have to stop treatment because of these complications. BCG infections and reactions can occur anywhere in the body, and may happen straight away or even several months or years after BCG treatment, making early diagnosis difficult. Additionally, correct diagnosis is hampered by the uncertain appearance of BCG in tissue and body fluid. An essential step in the management complications arising from BCG is written information for both the family doctor and the patient on the possible adverse events and their management. Recent data demonstrated that none of the earlier advocated methods to prevent BCG toxicity are valid: lowering the dose, tuberculostatic drugs, or oxybutynin. Severe complications are treated with three or four tuberculostatics over 3–12 months, depending on the severity of the situation. Corticosteroids are an essential therapy in BCG septicemia. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids can manage efficiently the immunological complications.