Diagnostic value of JC/BK virus antibody immunohistochemistry staining in urine samples from posttransplant immunosuppressed patients in relation to polyomavirus reactivation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the diagnostic value of cytology and immunohistochemistry staining (IHS) of urine samples for polyomavirus reactivation diagnosis.


METHODS
Sixty-eight urine samples collected from 18 immunosuppressed patients were analyzed by Papanicolaou and IHS with a JC/BK virus-specific monoclonal antibody.


RESULTS
Overall, polyomavirus BK (BKV) was positive in 11 of 18 patients (61.1%) (3 of whom developed hemorrhagic cystitis) and in 23 of 68 urine samples (28%). Of 23 samples, 4 (17%) were positive by 1 of the 2 techniques, only. Of 23 samples, 19 (83%) were positive by both methods. In matching urine samples from the same patient, the number of BKV-infected positive cells detected by IHS in urine slides was higher than those detected by Papanicolaou staining (71.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
The main advantage of LHS is that it allowed confirmation of BKV infection diagnosis in urine samples. IHS detected more BKV-infected cells in samples with few positive urothelial cells, which would have gone undetected if only Papanicolaou staining had been used as the BKV screening method. Urine samples testing for BKV by both techniques will improve diagnosis in asymptomatic patients, allowing early therapeutic intervention and a better clinical outcome.
Yuste
Rosario Sanchez
RS
Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain.
Frías
Carolina
C
López
Ana
A
Vallejo
Carlos
C
Martín
Paloma
P
Bellas
Carmen
C
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000652:urine*; D001739:BK Virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007577:JC Virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000652:urine / Q000821:virology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents