More on BCG-Induced Arthritis

Slab,

I think I'm starting to get it, finally! I just really want you to know that I am so glad that you started this thread. This subject has been of great interest to me.

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Dave,

If you will tell your Doctor (was it your Urologist?) to Google "Psoriatic Arthritis" and "BCG" she will find some related articles on the subject. Since my last post concerning this subject, I found the full article about the man who got the arthritis from BCG. It looks like, in his case, he had never had psoriasis before, and he got both psoriasis AND the arthritis just 6 weeks after his last induction of BCG. At least in my case, I knew I had the psoriasis. The thing is, as I was growing up, my older sister is the one who had the TERRIBLE case of psoriasis. I had a very mild case (still do). However, my sister is older than me and SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE ARTHRITIS!!

Getting this severe arthritis just 2 weeks after my last induction of BCG (#12) it just seems to me that I should be going on the record (and Orpheus, too) as having a severe reaction to BCG. Why isn't this important to our Doctors to report this reaction so that people who are researching (like your Doctor) can be enlightened??

Just thinking out loud...

this is from the article...

To the authors' knowledge, this patient represents the first reported case of new-onset psoriasis following intravesical BCG therapy and its effective treatment with a biologic agent.


findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PDG/is_/ai_n27981912

Ro

Well, Ro, it does get a bit confusing to me too. I like to just caount months from date of TURB and then do the BCG's at the appropriate points in time. So, as per Doc Lamm, he wants the 6 BCG's done soon after TURB, like within a few weeks, I believe. Then on the 3 month anniversary of TURB you do the first of 3 maint. BCG's...then another 3 on the 6 month anniversary. Then wait 'till the one year (12 month) anniversary to do the next 3 maint. BCG's, which would be #'s 13, 14 and 15. So this is what I will be following, just like he prescribes. That should make sense, shouldn't it? Dr. Lamm also has a little schedule on his website describing this protocol, so you might check there.

This is not the complete abstract (this is a pay site), but we do get partial information from this little blurb

"New-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a patient treated with Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy."

Article from: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology Article date: July 1, 2008

www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-182004393.html

What I want to know is why didn't my case get reported? How many other cases do not get reported???

Dave,

From what I understand, one of the tests that might give a clue as to what might be going on with you would be a blood test for your SED rate which measure markers for inflammation. If your SED rate is higher than normal then you may have a better idea of what is going on with the heaviness in your extremities.....

Please keep us posted as to what is going on.

Ro

Well here is someone who studied not only BCG in drug induced arthritis or rheumatism......lots of different drugs here. Look at the list at the bottom and notice BCG is one of them.
www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WWX-4RGG2KT-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=d22fb5777909d5a357ac6f094d3fb08e
Pat

Slab & Ro:

I've been travelling with my wife so have not been on the board. Got my first quarterly clean bill of health in mid October and start first round of 3 BCG maintenance (#7-9) next Tuesday.

I mentioned here before that I have mild psoriasis. It has now been almost 10 weeks since my last BCG (#6) and I still feel unusual mild to strong weakness in my lower extremities - especially in my knees and legs generally. I do not know what arthritis feels like because I have never had it (before) so do not know if these are its symtoms. The weakness (sometimes I have difficulty lifting my left leg while seated without putting my hand under it to help lift it). My uro claims unlikely due to BCG but I feel different. Could be unrelated but the coincidence strikes me. I have 6 month checkup with my regular GP in 2 weeks and will discuss with him. I want a referral to an orthopedist or a rheumatologlist. I also spoke to my dermatologist who said she research the literature and found nothing on relationships between psoriasis, BCG and arthritis.

But I feel what I feel and will follow up.

David

Well, Orpheus, I totally agree with you.

When I first posted about my arthritis 2 years ago, there was no one else talking about it here. It certainly is the greatest comfort to know that there are people that I can talk to about the issues of BCG induced arthritis. It's a beginning to a dialogue that may help have some impact with the medical community.
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Slab, So, is this it? Are you skipping the dose at the normal 3 month interval? Sorry, it isn't you. I've never really understood my own schedule.I have to see it marked off on a calendar.

Anyway, as far as reduced dosage goes, we tried it and it made no difference with me. Not only did it NOT help with the arthritic inflammation, but, it did nothing to reduce the intense burning and bleeding of my bladder. My interpretation of this is that my body was telling me to slack off!

This is great to be able to talk about this....

Later,
Ro