title: Tissue viral DNA is associated with chronic allograft nephropathy.
abstract: Viral infections post-renal transplant (Tx) impact on outcome. Increased rejection rates and decreased renal function secondary to acute CMV, EBV and HHV-6 infections are well described. However, the clinical significance of a mere presence of these viruses on kidney tissue biopsy remains questionable. Thirty-six kidney biopsies obtained from 17 renal transplants (five females) and two combined liver-kidney recipients (one female) were retrospectively evaluated. Age at Tx ranged from 1.7 to 17.2 yr (median = 7.4). Biopsies were performed as protocol biopsies or when renal function deteriorated, between 6 weeks and 11 yr post-Tx (median = 1.2 yr). Immunosuppression included steroids and combination of tacrolimus/cyclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil/azathioprin and induction therapy. Fourteen patients received antiviral prophylaxis (ganciclovir/valganciclovir/acyclovir). Renal tissue was classified according to Banff '97 criteria. Tissue CMV, EBV, HHV-6 and HHV-7 was analyzed by PCR. We used an estimation of GFR from average plasma Cystatin C (CysC) and slopes of 1/CysC to assess renal function. The 16/36 biopsies were positive for one virus; 5/36 biopsies were positive for two viruses. In the infected group, Banff '97 scores for interstitial fibrosis (ci) and tubular degeneration/atrophy (ct) were significantly higher (p < 0.03 vs. the non-infected group for both). The slope of 1/CysC, or the proportion of patients on antiviral prophylaxis, did not differ significantly between both groups. In conclusion, a significant number of kidney biopsies showed PCR positivity for CMV, EBV, HHV-6 and HHV-7. This was associated with a significantly higher Banff score for ci and ct; while renal function was not affected. Further controlled studies are required.
authors.affiliation: Slovak Medical University, Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Katarína
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sebeková
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feber
authors.forename: Blair
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karnauchow
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diaz-Mitoma
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral