Progressive BCG infection in an immunodeficient child treated with transfer factor

Abstract

BCG vaccination in a 10-year-old Iranian girl was followed by local progression of the lesions and spread to distant sites. The histology of the skin lesions revealed no tubercle formation. She was found to have defective cell-mediated immunity. Antituberculous therapy failed to heal and prevent local progression of the lesions. She was therefore treated with dialyzable transfer factor prepared from tuberculin-positive donors. Subsequently, the cutaneous lesions have healed completely and the cutaneous anergy to antigens other than PPD has reverted to normal.