title: Polyomavirus BK infection in end-stage renal disease: analysis of viral replication in patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
abstract: Patients in end-stage renal disease undergoing renal replacement treatment (ESRD-RRT) are considered immunocompromised. The hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) procedures seem to produce alterations of the immune status. Interest in immunosuppression has increased due to the poliomavirus BK (BKV) infection. Our study evaluated the prevalence of BKV infection in ESRD-RRT patients and viral replication on HD or PD. From 2006 to 2011 we selected 58 patients (34 males) in ESRD-RRT for inclusion in our study. BKV replication was evaluated by qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In ESRD-RRT patients, the prevalence of BKV replication on plasma was 21%. We identified two groups of patients according to the dialysis procedure: 36 patients on HD (HD group) and 22 on PD (PD group). BKV replication in the HD group was 33% (12 of 36) versus 0% (0 of 22) in the PD group. Different age, number of months on RRT, and preserved diuresis was observed in the HD versus PD groups. With our results we can speculate that BKV infection in ESRD-RRT patients is linked to factors involved in the uremia-related immune dysfunction but also to specific mechanisms related to the different RRTs. PD is an option that could be associated with a better transplant outcome for patients undergoing kidney transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. annapaola.mitter@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mitterhofer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Umbro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pietropaolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meçule
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tinti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiacco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anzivino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Berloco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taliani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014779:Virus Replication