Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guèrin therapy: experience with a reduced dwell-time in patients with pronounced side-effects.
OBJECTIVE
To report the side-effects after a reduction in the dwell-time in patients who had pronounced symptoms after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG) treatment, as side-effects such as fever, haematuria, and frequency are common and sometimes severe after BCG treatment in patients with bladder cancer.


METHODS
The dwell-time was reduced to < or = 30 min in 51 patients who had pronounced side-effects after the preceding BCG instillation. All patients self-reported side-effects after each instillation in a questionnaire.


RESULTS
After reducing the BCG dwell-time, fever, chills, dysuria and the overall time-to-recovery were significantly reduced but frequency and haematuria were not influenced. Patients with carcinoma in situ had significantly less dysuria than patients with papillary tumours. There was no difference in the treatment results between patients who had a normal dwell-time and a reduced dwell-time, determined at the first and second follow-up cystoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Reducing the BCG dwell-time to < or = 30 min could be an alternative to a dose reduction in patients who experience pronounced side-effects after BCG instillations. The long-term outcome after reducing dwell-time and after dose reduction has not been studied and warrants further investigation.
Andius
Patrik
P
Department of Urology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Fehrling
Marianne
M
Holmäng
Sten
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000368:Aged; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023341:Chills / Q000139:chemically induced; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006417:Hematuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine