[Side effects of BCG immune therapy in 511 patients with malignant melanoma]

The main side-effects of BCG vaccination by scarification in 511 patients with malignant melanoma since 1974 have been fatigue and exhaustion, swelling of the lymph-nodes, influenza-like symptoms, nausea and dizziness. Only in 8 patients were the side-effects more severe, requiring the cessation of treatment in some of them. One patient developed granulomatous hepatitis, another experienced a reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis. Allergic reactions occurred in two patients. A further patient developed recurrent erysipelas in the draining areas of the scarification. In two patients we observed continuous severe joint troubles, which were not due to metastatic disease. The eighth patient developed keloids at the vaccination sites on the upper arms. One third of the patients had no side-effects. Altogether vaccinations were tolerated well by most of the patients. Nearly all of them were able to work normally.