Reiter's syndrome following intravesical bacille biliE de Calmette-GuErin treatment for superficial bladder carcinoma: report of six cases.

Abstract

We report the cases of six patients who developed acute Reiter's syndrome following intravesical bacille biliE de Calmette-GuErin (BCG) immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer. After the third to eighth BCG intravesical injection, the patients developed conjunctivitis, aseptic urethritis, and polyarthritis consistent with a diagnosis of Reiter's syndrome. HLA-B27 antigen was negative in five of the patients examined. Two of the patients responded to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for polyarthritis, and the other four responded to steroids (prednisolone 5-10 mg/day). The frequent use of intracavitary BCG may increase the incidence of BCG-induced Reiter's syndrome. Further analysis of the relationship between HLA-B and -DR alleles and arthritis should shed light on the mechanism of BCG-induced Reiter's syndrome.

• Authors: Hideyuki Murata, Yoshihiro Adachi, Takehiko Ebitsuka, Yusuke Chino, Reiko Takahashi, Taichi Hayashi, Daisuke Goto, Isao Matsumoto, Akito Tsutsumi, Hideyuki Akaza, Takayuki Sumida
• Journal: Modern rheumatology (Mod Rheumatol) Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 82-6 ( 2004) ISSN: 1439-7595 [Print] England
• PMID: 17028812 (Publication Type: Journal Article)