Polyomavirus nephropathy in native kidneys of a solitary pancreas transplant recipient.
BACKGROUND
Latent polyomavirus (PV) infection of the urinary tract can be reactivated by immunosuppression. When this occurs in the renal allograft, permanent loss of allograft function can occur. Polyomavirus reactivation could potentially affect the native kidneys of nonrenal transplant recipients and cause renal dysfunction.


METHODS
This article describes a case of PV nephropathy in the native kidneys of a solitary-pancreas transplant recipient. This patient had a progressive increase in serum creatinine. Screening urine cytology showed numerous cells with cytopathic changes suggestive of polyomavirus infection.


RESULTS
Biopsy of the native kidneys of this patient showed renal tubular cells with intranuclear inclusions characteristic of PV infection, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy showed intranuclear viral particles. Patchy inflammation and fibrosis also were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Polyomavirus reactivation can occur in the native kidneys of nonrenal solid organ transplant recipients. This should be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal impairment in these patients. The effects of PV reactivation on long-term native kidney function are not known.
Haririan
Abdolreza
A
Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Ramos
Emilio R
ER
Drachenberg
Cynthia B
CB
Weir
Matthew R
MR
Klassen
David K
DK
D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000254:growth & development; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014775:Virus Activation