Polyomavirus in kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To report the incidence and clinical characteristics of polyomavirus (PV) nephritis in kidney (KTX) and kidney-pancreas transplant (KPTX) recipients.


METHODS
Single center retrospective analysis of all cases of PV nephritis in KTX and KPTX patients transplanted between 1994 and 1999.


RESULTS
Thirteen (5 KTX and 8 KPTX) patients (2.1%) had PV nephritis diagnosed on multiple biopsies (n = 22) among 504 KTX and 106 KPTX recipients. The incidence of PV nephritis was higher in cadaver donor transplants (2.6% cadaver vs. 0.7% living donors), after KPTX (1% KTX vs. 7.5% KPTX), in males (3.3% male vs. 0.7% female), and in diabetic patients (4.4% diabetic vs. 0.8% nondiabetic). The mean time to diagnosis of PV nephritis was 18 (range 6-48) months after KTX and 17 (range 9-31) months after KPTX. Three KTX patients and 5 KPTX patients had calcineurin inhibitor toxicity on biopsy prior to developing PV nephritis. Reduction in immunosuppression occurred in 100% of KTX and 63% of KPTX patients. Three patients (23%) developed rejection within 3 months of diagnosis of PV, 1 after a reduction in immunosuppression. Despite multiple antiviral treatment regimens, renal allograft failure requiring dialysis occurred in 60% of KTX and 50% of KPTX patients. All KPTX patients remain insulin independent and 2 were successfully retransplanted with living donor kidneys. 2 patients (15%) died but there was no mortality directly related to the virus.


CONCLUSIONS
Polyomavirus nephritis may be increasing in incidence and appears to be unresponsive to either conventional antiviral agents or a reduction in immunosuppression. Most of our cases occurred in male diabetic patients undergoing cadaveric donor transplantation and were preceded by biopsy-proven nephrotoxicity. Further studies are needed to better define the pathogenesis of PV and effective antiviral treatment.
Trofe
J
J
Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
Gaber
L W
LW
Stratta
R J
RJ
Shokouh-Amiri
M H
MH
Vera
S R
SR
Alloway
R R
RR
Lo
A
A
Gaber
A O
AO
Egidi
M F
MF
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D015994:Incidence; D007668:Kidney / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009393:Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome