title: BK virus nephropathy in a heart transplant recipient: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The human polyomavirus BK virus (BKV) remains latent in the urinary tract and may be reactivated in immunocompromised states. BKV is noted to be the etiologic agent of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), which is a significant cause of allograft failure in renal transplant patients. Renal dysfunction following non-renal solid organ transplantation is common and is typically attributed to drug toxicity or patient comorbidities. In this article we describe a case of PVAN in the native kidneys of a heart transplant recipient and review the literature. Although this is only the fourth case reported, BKV nephropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of new renal failure following non-kidney solid organ transplantation, as early diagnosis of PVAN is necessary to prevent irreversible renal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: C E H
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: T J C
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hewlett
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geldenhuys
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kiberd
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Acott
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Hatchette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000254:growth & development*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male