title: [BK virus nephropathy after renal transplantation. Diagnosis and prognosis by real time PCR].
abstract: BK virus nephropathy may lead to kidney transplant failure. BK infection and acute rejection are clinically undistinguishable, therefore diagnosis of these entities is critical to establish the correct treatment. The new molecular methods using PCR and real time PCR have significantly contributed to the rapid and sensitive diagnosis of BK virus. Furthermore, viral load determination in-plasma has significantly been associated with BK virus nephropathy. Definite diagnosis of nephropathy requires renal biopsy, although due to the multifocal nature of the disease sensitivity may be less than 100%. BK detection in blood and urine by PCR has contributed to the diagnosis of nephropathy in a more standardized and less invasive way. Recently, quantification of BK virus in plasma has been used for the diagnosis and monitoring of this disease. In the present study, we describe the validation of a real time PCR method for BK virus detection in plasma and urine and its application for diagnosis and monitoring in a renal transplant patient with nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Clínica, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina. mechavarria@cemic.edu.ar
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Echavarría
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basilotta
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davalos
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricarte
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iotti
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carballal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001706:Biopsy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral