Correlates of quantitative measurement of BK polyomavirus (BKV) DNA with clinical course of BKV infection in renal transplant patients.
BK virus-allograft nephropathy (BKVAN) is an increasingly recognized complication after kidney transplantation. Quantitative tests have been advocated to monitor patients, but data demonstrating their efficacy are relatively limited. We developed a real-time PCR assay to quantitate BK virus loads in the setting of renal transplantation, and we correlated the BK virus load with clinical course and with the presence of BK virus in renal biopsy specimens. BK virus loads were measured in urine, plasma, and kidney biopsy samples in three clinical settings: (i) patients with asymptomatic BK viruria, (ii) patients with active BKVAN, and (iii) patients with resolved BKVAN. Active BKVAN was associated with BK viremia greater than 5 x 103 copies/ml and with BK viruria greater than 107 copies/ml in all cases. Resolution of nephropathy led to resolution of viremia, decreased viruria levels, and disappearance of viral inclusions, but low-level viral DNA persisted in biopsy specimens even for patients whose viruria was cleared. All but one patient in the resolved BKVAN group carried a urinary viral load below 107 copies/ml. Viral loads in patients with asymptomatic viruria were generally lower but in some cases overlapped with levels more typical of BKVAN. One patient with asymptomatic viruria and with a viral load overlapping values seen in BKVAN had developed nephropathy by the time of follow-up. In conclusion, serial measurement of viral loads by quantitative PCR is a useful tool in monitoring the course of BK virus infection. The results should be interpreted in conjunction with the clinical picture and biopsy findings.
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. randhawapa@msx.upmc.edu
Parmjeet
P
Randhawa
Andrew
A
Ho
Ron
R
Shapiro
Abhay
A
Vats
P
P
Swalsky
Sydney
S
Finkelstein
John
J
Uhrmacher
Karen
K
Weck
D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral