Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients

Purpose: To determine the incidence of COVID 19 in a series of registered patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, treated by TUR-BT and intravesical BCG. Patients and method: We analysed 127 patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, in the medium/high risk group, registered between...

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Main Authors: Gabriel GLUCK, B. RADU, Angelica IONESCU, A. BOAR, Ioanel SINESCU
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bucharest College of Physicians 2020-06-01
Series:Modern Medicine
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Online Access:https://medicinamoderna.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RMM_art-7.pdf
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author Gabriel GLUCK
B. RADU
Angelica IONESCU
A. BOAR
Ioanel SINESCU
author_facet Gabriel GLUCK
B. RADU
Angelica IONESCU
A. BOAR
Ioanel SINESCU
author_sort Gabriel GLUCK
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: To determine the incidence of COVID 19 in a series of registered patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, treated by TUR-BT and intravesical BCG. Patients and method: We analysed 127 patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, in the medium/high risk group, registered between 2001-2020. The patients and families have been contacted by phone. In this interval, 32 patients deceased (cardiovascular pathologies, non-urologic neoplasia, tumour progression), 95 patients are still alive, 24 women and 71 men. The average age was 61.7 (16-86), the majority being over 50, included in the high-risk group for COVID-19. The patients were resected endoscopically and received a cytostatic instillation within the fi rst 6 hours. Reresection of the tumour bed was practiced in pT1 patients. The adjuvant treatment with BCG was used in the induction form at each relapse and maintenance (22 patients), respectively. Until 2005, we used the local strain (Cantacuzino Clinical Institute), after that, the strain from Bulgaria (Calgevax) and Medac (Germany). Results: 95 patients are still alive. Tumour relapses were registered in 34 patients. 3 patients registered tumour progression, resolved through radical cystectomy (2) and irradiation. In 3 cases, upper tract urothelial tumours were registered (nephroureterectomy with perimeatic cystectomy). 63 patients underwent induction treatment, while 22 underwent maintenance treatment. Complications: Intolerance to BCG in 4 patients, BCG cystitis in 5 patients, arthritis in 1 patient, septic status in 2 patients. In the analysed batch of patients, no COVID-19 cases have been registered. Conclusions: It appears that the intravesical administration of BCG represents an immunologic booster (confirmable through PPD), resulting in a reduction of the COVID-19 infection incidence.
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spelling doaj-art-e0c7eda94b134ec88274a070e0155e2a2025-08-20T02:03:57ZengBucharest College of PhysiciansModern Medicine1223-04722360-24732020-06-01272103106https://doi.org/10.31689/rmm.2020.27.2.103Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC PatientsGabriel GLUCK0B. RADU1Angelica IONESCU2A. BOAR3Ioanel SINESCU4Clinic of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Fundeni Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaClinic of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Fundeni Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaClinic of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Fundeni Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaClinic of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Fundeni Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaClinic of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Fundeni Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaPurpose: To determine the incidence of COVID 19 in a series of registered patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, treated by TUR-BT and intravesical BCG. Patients and method: We analysed 127 patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, in the medium/high risk group, registered between 2001-2020. The patients and families have been contacted by phone. In this interval, 32 patients deceased (cardiovascular pathologies, non-urologic neoplasia, tumour progression), 95 patients are still alive, 24 women and 71 men. The average age was 61.7 (16-86), the majority being over 50, included in the high-risk group for COVID-19. The patients were resected endoscopically and received a cytostatic instillation within the fi rst 6 hours. Reresection of the tumour bed was practiced in pT1 patients. The adjuvant treatment with BCG was used in the induction form at each relapse and maintenance (22 patients), respectively. Until 2005, we used the local strain (Cantacuzino Clinical Institute), after that, the strain from Bulgaria (Calgevax) and Medac (Germany). Results: 95 patients are still alive. Tumour relapses were registered in 34 patients. 3 patients registered tumour progression, resolved through radical cystectomy (2) and irradiation. In 3 cases, upper tract urothelial tumours were registered (nephroureterectomy with perimeatic cystectomy). 63 patients underwent induction treatment, while 22 underwent maintenance treatment. Complications: Intolerance to BCG in 4 patients, BCG cystitis in 5 patients, arthritis in 1 patient, septic status in 2 patients. In the analysed batch of patients, no COVID-19 cases have been registered. Conclusions: It appears that the intravesical administration of BCG represents an immunologic booster (confirmable through PPD), resulting in a reduction of the COVID-19 infection incidence.https://medicinamoderna.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RMM_art-7.pdfcovid-19bladder cancerbcg
spellingShingle Gabriel GLUCK
B. RADU
Angelica IONESCU
A. BOAR
Ioanel SINESCU
Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients
Modern Medicine
covid-19
bladder cancer
bcg
title Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients
title_full Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients
title_fullStr Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients
title_full_unstemmed Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients
title_short Intravesical BCG: Possible Protective Impact Against COVID-19 in NMIBC Patients
title_sort intravesical bcg possible protective impact against covid 19 in nmibc patients
topic covid-19
bladder cancer
bcg
url https://medicinamoderna.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RMM_art-7.pdf
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