Fatal systemic reaction after multiple doses of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin far polyposis

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of fatal systemic reaction after intravesical a dministrations of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for polyposis. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old white man was treated by monthly injections of intravesical BCG immunotherapy for polyposis of the urinary bladder. He rec eived a total of eight injections; four hours after the seventh injection, he presented with pyrexia associated with chills, sweating, headache, and v omiting, which quickly resolved. Four hours after the eighth injection, the patient presented with the same symptoms plus a left-hemisphere deficiency . Results of a cerebral scan performed at this time were normal. The clinic al status of the patient quickly worsened, with the appearance of dissemina ted intravascular coagulation, acute anuric renal insufficiency, rhabdomyol ysis, hemolysis, and cytolytic and cholestatic hepatitis. The patient requi red hemodialysis and symptomatic treatment. Lactic acidosis with hemolytic- uremic syndrome appeared, and he died as the result of a multivisceral (res piratory, renal, hepatic) deficiency. DISCUSSION: The patient presented with symptoms compatible with a severe sy stemic reaction to BCG therapy, a rare but possible adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: BCG instillation is a valuable tool in the therapy of bladder carcinoma, but increasing reports of severe adverse reactions should contin ue to remind practicing urologists to be alert to the possibility of common and uncommon reactions after its use.