title: BK virus renal infection in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We describe herein a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and renal failure due to biopsy-proven BK virus (BKV) infection. Three months after the diagnosis of the renal viral infection, his condition remained unchanged. Although BKV has previously been shown to be associated with ureteral stenosis and renal damage in renal transplant patients, to our knowledge, the literature contains only 3 cases describing the presence of BKV lesions in the kidneys of immunosuppressed patients who had not undergone transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of BKV infection was demonstrated by means of histology, immunohistochemistry with polyclonal anti-SV40 antibody, immunoelectron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, and enzymatic cleavage with BamHI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histologic examination revealed interstitial inflammatory infiltrates and tubules with enlarged and eosinophilic nuclei.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high frequency of latent BKV infection and its reactivation during immunosuppression suggest that the possibility of its involvement in renal damage should be considered in immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: L. Sacco Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Pathology Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebuloni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldorini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carsana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonetto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abeli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caldarelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vago
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costanzi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001706:Biopsy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral