Prevalence and Risk Factors of BK Viremia in Patients With Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience From Turkey.
BACKGROUND
BK virus is the cause of nephropathy, which can progress to graft loss after kidney transplantation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of BK viremia in patients with kidney transplantation at our center.


METHODS
This was a retrospective single-center study. We included recipients transplanted between 2010 and 2015. Patients were stratified according to BK virus DNA follow-up values into three groups (0-999 copies/mL, 1000-9999 copies/mL and ≥10,000 copies/mL). The parametric t test and the non-parametric χ2test were used to detect differences between groups. Multivariate analysis was used to identify risk factors for BK viremia.


RESULTS
One hundred eighty-three patients were included in the study, with mean follow-up time of 33.6 ± 14.9 months. BK viremia prevalence was found 15.8% (n = 29), and time to detection of viremia was 7.6 months. Cadaveric transplantation and matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A24 and HLA B55 subgroups were found to be independent risk factors for BK viremia [odds ratio (OR), 3.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42-9.39; P < .001; OR, 4.94; 95% CI, 1.84-13.2; P < .001 and OR, 14.03; 95% CI, 1.07-183.5; P = .04, respectively]. Risk factors for BKV level ≥10,000 copies/mL cadaveric transplantation, male sex, and HLA A24 matching (OR, 4.53; 95% CI, 1.49-13.7; P < .001; OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.11-10.86; P = .03 and OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.08-12.1; P = .03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients should be followed more carefully for BK viremia who have cadaveric transplantation, are male, and have matching in certain HLA groups, which were independent risk factors in the present study. Our results are important to individualize screening methods and provide early diagnosis in our country.
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: serifeezgidogan@gmail.com.
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Dogan
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey.
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Celebi
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey.
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Akturk
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey.
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Kutlay
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey; Ankara University School of Medicine, Transplantation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
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Tuzuner
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey; Ankara University School of Medicine, Transplantation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
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Keven
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey; Ankara University School of Medicine, Transplantation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
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Sengul
D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D014421:Turkey; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*