title: Levofloxacin for the treatment of severe refractory BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: A report of three cases.
abstract: BK-virus (BKV) is an important etiological agent for late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Late-onset HC causes significant morbidity among these patients. Therapeutic approaches remain predominantly symptomatic. Several treatment options have been used with variable success rates. Cidofovir has the highest specificity against BKV; however, its lack of availability in the majority of countries, high costs and potential nephrotoxic effects limit its use. The present study reports three cases of severe and prolonged BKV-associated HC (BKHC). HC was resolved in all three of the patients using oral levofloxacin. Thus, levofloxacin may be an effective treatment modality for achieving complete clinical and molecular response in patients with refractory, severe BKHC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van 65100, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tayfur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toptas
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul 34890, Turkey.
authors.forename: Isik
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaygusuz-Atagunduz
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul 34890, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haluk Tarik
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kani
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul 34890, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cafer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adiguzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul 34890, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tulin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Firatli-Tuglular
keywords: BK virus; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; hemorrhagic cystitis; levofloxacin