title: BK virus in the kidney transplant patient.
abstract: BK virus, a member of the polyomavirus family, is a well-recognized cause of irreversible graft failure after kidney transplantation. Awareness of the relationship between BK infection and immunosuppression along with better understanding of its pathogenesis has contributed to increasing rates of its diagnosis. Current therapies are aimed at early diagnosis, limiting inflammation caused by the virus and elimination of the virus through different strategies. The epidemiology, pathogenesis and the different modalities of therapy available are discussed in this review along with the approach to retransplantation in the setting of graft failure from BK infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. sarat-kuppachi@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Sarat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuppachi
authors.forename: Beje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kokko
mesh_terms: D001739:BK Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D000077339:Leflunomide; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D015363:Quinolones; D000077339:Leflunomide