title: Intravenous immunoglobulin as a treatment for BK virus associated nephropathy: one-year follow-up of renal allograft recipients.
abstract: BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVAN) has emerged as an important cause of renal allograft dysfunction and graft loss. Although several treatment strategies have been proposed, the rate of graft loss remains high. We studied the outcome of renal transplant patients with BKVAN treated with IVIG. After 11.4 +/- 3.9 months (mean +/- SEM) from the time of transplantation, 8 renal allograft recipients were diagnosed with BKVAN. In addition to a reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, patients received 2 g/kg IVIG. After a mean follow-up of 15 months, all except one patient are currently off dialysis. In summary, after IVIG therapy, 88% of patients still have functioning grafts, although renal function continues to be impaired. The benefit of concomitant IVIG and reduction of immunosuppressive therapy in BKVAN needs to be further addressed in randomized, multicentered trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, London Health Sciences Center, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sener
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jevnikar
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boudville
authors.forename: Vivian C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: McAlister
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muirhead
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: Patrick P W
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Luke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D003401:Creatine