title: Polyomavirus DNA and RNA detection in renal allograft biopsies: results from a European multicenter study.
abstract: Polyomavirus mediated nephropathy is an increasingly recognized complication in renal transplant recipients. In all, 362 renal biopsies collected from 15 European transplant centers were analyzed for presence of Polyomavirus nucleic acid (BK virus [BKV] and JC virus [JCV]). We evaluated 302 biopsies of patients with renal allograft dysfunction, including three with known BKV allograft nephropathy (BKVAN), and 60 native kidney biopsies. BKV DNA was detected in 8 of the 302 (2.6 %) biopsies obtained for transplant dysfunction, but in none of the controls. BKV RNA, indicating active viral replication, was found in all BKV DNA positive biopsies available for mRNA expression studies. Retrospective immunohistochemical staining was positive for SV40 large T antigen in all seven evaluated biopsies. BKV DNA and RNA were detected in biopsy tissues from patients with inconspicuous light microscopy for BKVAN. Further studies will evaluate the potential of intrarenal viral BKV RNA as an early predictor for BKVAN.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nitschko
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerth
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kliem
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henger
authors.forename: Clemens D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlöndorff
authors.forename: Hermann-Josef
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gröne
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kretzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral