title: BK DNA viral load in plasma: evidence for an association with hemorrhagic cystitis in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
abstract: We performed a case-control study to determine the association of BK plasma viremia with hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Thirty cases of HC (14 of which occurred after platelet engraftment with documented BK viruria [BK-HC]) were compared with matched controls. Weekly plasma samples were tested for BK virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). BK viremia detected before or during the disease was independently associated with HC (adjusted odds ratio = 30, P < .001); BK viremia was even important before clinical symptoms of HC occurred (odds ratio = 11, P < .001). Cases of HC and BK-HC had a significantly higher peak of BK plasma viral load than controls. BK virus was detected by in situ hybridization in bladder biopsies of 2 cases with severe HC and long-lasting BK viremia. BK virus seems to play a role in the development of HC and quantitative detection of BK DNA in plasma appears to be a marker of BK virus disease in HCT recipients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Program in Infectious Diseases, 1100 Fairview Ave North D3-100, PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Erard
authors.forename: Hyung Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Limaye
authors.forename: Meei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myerson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boeckh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003556:Cystitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods; D014766:Viremia / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral