Disseminated bcg disease associated with immunotherapy by scarification in acute leukemia

Abstract

Disseminated BCG infection developed in a patient with acute leukemia receiving BCG immunotherapy by scarification. Predisposing factors included the underlying malignancy, intensive chemotherapy, and continuous high-dose corticosteroids. The scarification technique is safe; however, physicians should be alert to this syndrome as a cause of fever of unknown origin in cancer patients receiving BCG immunotherapy.

Active specific immunotherapy of residual micrometastasis

“…Several strains of BCG and a variety of doses have been utilized; both of these parameters are considered important with regard to efficacy of therapy [14,22,26]. These complications stem from the dissemination of BCG from the injection site [35,36], resulting in systemic symptoms and signs similar to disseminated tuberculosis. There have been significant clinical problems and some fatalities [15,36,37,39,40].…”