Polyoma virus BK and renal dysfunction in a transplanted population.
BACKGROUND
Reactivation of polyoma virus BK (BKV) is increasingly recognized as a cause of severe renal-allograft dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prevalence of BKV infection and activity in a population of kidney (KT) and liver (LT) transplant patients and search for a possible correlation with renal dysfunction.


METHODS
We studied 118 patients for BKV viruria and, when present, for BKV viremia. We also assessed HCV status.


RESULTS
Among 16 patients with BKV viruria (5 LT and 11 KT), eight showed BKV viremia (one LT and seven KT). Among BKV viruria-positive patients, three LT recipients were HCV-positive. All LT BKV viruria-positive patients showed normal renal function with a mean serum creatinine (sCr) blood level of 0.9 mg% and a mean blood urea nitrogen (BUN) value of about 36 mg%. The mean transplant age was 2.5 years. In contrast, KT BKV viruria-positive patients showed impaired renal function which was slightly worse in patients who also displayed BKV viremia, namely, a mean sCr blood level 1.7 mg% and a mean BUN value about 80 mg%. The mean transplant age was 7 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these findings, it seems that BKV viruria in renal allograft recipients may be associated with viremia and related to nephropathy that may lead to allograft rejection. The study will be completed with a 2-year follow-up of positive patients to assess the possible relationship between BKV active infection and eventual decrease of renal function and loss of transplanted organ.
Splendiani
G
G
Chair of Nephrology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Cipriani
S
S
Condò
S
S
Paba
P
P
Ciotti
M
M
Favalli
C
C
Vega
A
A
Dominijanni
S
S
Casciani
C U
CU
D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology*; D013997:Time Factors