Background: Intravesical instillations with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is considered the treatment of choice in the prophylaxis of high-grade superficial bladder carcinoma and in the treatment of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder.
Methods: There is no previous experience with BCG treatment in patients with renal transplantation. Theoretically, immunosuppression is a contraindication because of the risk of severe morbidity and sepsis. We present our experience with endovesical BCG in three renal transplant patients, under immunosuppressive treatment, with high-grade superficial bladder cancer and CIS.
Results: Two patients are free of disease at 17 and 60 months. One patient developed disease recurrence and underwent a radical cystectomy. There was neither change in renal function nor any clinical evidence of tuberculous infection.
Conclusions: Intravesical BCG in superficial bladder cancer and/or CIS is a valid option, with no added morbidity to renal transplant patients.