Acute polyarthritis following the use of Corynebacterium parvum vaccine (Coparvax) for malignant pleural effusion

A 77-year-old man with a malignant pleural effusion was treated by aspiration of fluid and injection of Corynebacterium parvum vaccine for pleurodesis. Within 24 hr he had developed a temperature and a neutropenia followed by an acute crippling polyarthritis of his hands and wrists which subsequently responded to oral steroids and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs.