title: BK Virus in Kidney Transplant Recipients: The Influence of Immunosuppression.
abstract: The incidence of BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients has increased over recent decades, coincident with the use of more potent immunosuppression. More importantly, posttransplant BK virus replication has emerged as an important cause of graft damage and subsequent graft loss. Immunosuppression has been accepted as a major risk for BK virus replication. However, the specific contribution of individual immunosuppressive medications to this risk has not been well established. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the recent literature on the influence of the various immunosuppressant drugs and drug combinations on posttransplant BK virus replication. Evidence supporting the various immunosuppression reduction strategies utilised in the management of BK virus will also be briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University of Queensland at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Barraclough
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Isbel
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Staatz
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Johnson