Systemic bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection and accompanying warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia following intravesical BCG immunotherapy

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is used for urothelial carcinoma. Systemic side effects are rare and commonly include organ involvement but rarely include bone marrow. We describe a patient who had received intravesical BCG and presented shortly afterwards with constitutional symptoms. I...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alper Tuna Güven, Yusuf Ziya Demiroğlu, Nazım Emrah Koçer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMC MEDIA SRL 2023-08-01
Series:European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/4009
Description
Summary:Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is used for urothelial carcinoma. Systemic side effects are rare and commonly include organ involvement but rarely include bone marrow. We describe a patient who had received intravesical BCG and presented shortly afterwards with constitutional symptoms. Initial work-up revealed pancytopenia and immune haemolysis. He was presumptively diagnosed with systemic BCG infection and secondary warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol was started. The bone marrow biopsy revealed granulomas. Within 6 weeks of treatment, the patient's clinic and laboratory results were dramatically improved. A high level of suspicion is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
ISSN:2284-2594