Chorioretinitis induced by intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations for urinary bladder carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
We report the rare case of a chorioretinitis occurring after intravesical BCG instillation to cure in situ carcinoma.


METHODS
A 57-year-old man was treated for bladder carcinoma with BCG instillations. Visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye. Bilateral chorioretinitis was discovered three months after initiation of intravesical BCG therapy.


RESULTS
No progression of ocular lesions could be seen after a 6 months therapy with rifampicin, isoniazide and ethambutol.


CONCLUSIONS
BCG chorioretinitis is a rare complication that can be seen after intravesical BCG therapy. BCG is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Two mechanisms can be proposed as the origin of ocular inflammation: a local immune response or a direct choroidal mycobacterial infection.
Guex-Crosier
Yan
Y
Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Lausanne, Schweiz. yan.guex@ophtal.vd.ch
Chamot
Line
L
Zografos
Léonidas
L
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine