Successful treatment of disseminated BCG infection in a SCID patient with granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2008 Mar;26(1):71-5.

Abstract

Severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) are disorders with impairment of humoral and cellular immune functions. The prognosis of disseminated bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection in immunocompromised host is unfavorable since response to standard therapy is poor. We report a successful treatment of disseminated BCG infection with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency. The patient failed to response to intensive anti-tuberculous (anti-TB) therapy. After 2 months of G-CSF, in addition to anti-TB treatment, the clinical signs of disseminated BCG infection were improved. Since serious BCG infections in SCID are not uncommon in developing countries, where BCG vaccination is mandatory to all newborns, the combination of G-CSF and anti-TB drugs should be considered in immunocompromised patients with protracted mycobacterial infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • BCG Vaccine / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Mycobacterium bovis*
  • Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / complications*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis / etiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • BCG Vaccine
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor