Renal complications of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

Am J Nephrol. 1991;11(6):501-4. doi: 10.1159/000168368.

Abstract

We report 3 patients who developed signs of systemic infection and renal insufficiency after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations for a bladder cancer. Renal biopsy showed tubulo-interstitial nephritis with or without epithelioid granulomas in 2 cases, and mesangial glomerulonephritis in the last case. All patients had granulomatous hepatitis in association. It seems that hematogenous dissemination via a traumatic instillation of BCG and/or an immune-complex mechanism may have contributed to the renal damage, which was only partially reversible in 2 patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravesical
  • Aged
  • BCG Vaccine / adverse effects*
  • BCG Vaccine / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / therapy
  • Glomerulonephritis / etiology
  • Granuloma / etiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases / etiology*
  • Liver Diseases / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / etiology
  • Papilloma / therapy
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine