Publication
Title
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-induced granulomatous hepatitis in a patient with a superficial bladder carcinoma
Author
Abstract
A 71-year-old male patient with a superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder developed high fever and jaundice, accompanied by progressively increasing serum aminotransferase activities, 2 weeks after the fourth local instillation with an attenuated live strain of Mycobacterium bovis [bacillus Calmefte-Guerin (BCG)]. A liver biopsy showed non-caseating granulomatous hepatitis. Cultures for mycobacteria were negative. Mycobacterial DNA was not detected in liver tissue using the polymerase chain reaction. Empirical treatment with rifampicin and isoniazid was started, resulting in partial recovery. After 6 months of therapy, however, serum aminotransferase activities were still twice the upper limit of normal. A second liver biopsy still demonstrated several granulomas. Only after addition of prednisolone, liver tests completely normalized. Also histologically the lesions improved dramatically. This suggests that the BCG hepatitis was at least partially caused by a hypersensitivity reaction. Our patient is the first reported case of BCG hepatitis with histological follow-up under therapy.
Language
English
Source (journal)
European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology. - Melville, N.Y.
Publication
Melville, N.Y. : 2004
ISSN
0954-691X
DOI
10.1097/00042737-200410000-00012
Volume/pages
16 :10 (2004) , p. 1027-1032
ISI
000224650300012
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 12.07.2012
Last edited 04.03.2024
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