Characteristics of BK virus infection in renal transplant recipients / 中华肾脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics of BK virus (BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients. Methods A total of 243 renal recipients from our clinic within 48 months after transplantation were enrolled as the trial group and 82 healthy people as the control group. Urine and peripheral blood samples of these two groups were harvested for urinary sediment BKV cytology by Decoy cell counting and BKV DNA by real-time PCR. Results The positive rates of urinary Decoy cell, BKV viruria and viremia were 35.4%, 36.6% and 16.9% in trial group, and 4.9%, 20.7% and 2.9% in control group, respectively. In trial group, the medians of urinary Decoy cell, urinary BKV and peripheral blood BKV were 6/10 HPF, 1.00×104 copy/ml and 6.87×103 copy/ml respectively, while in control group, they were 2/10 HPF, 1.10×104 copy/ml and 2.24×1(3 copy/ml. Compared with the healthy people, the positive rates and the levels of BKV DNA in urine and peripheral blood of recipients were significantly higher. The amount of urinary Decoy cells was positively correlated to urinary BKV load (r=0.636, P＜0.01). Conclusions BKV replication is easier to happen in renal recipients as compared to healthy people. Counting of urinary Decoy cells is convenient, useful and sensitive to evaluate BK viruria and viremia in renaltransplant recipients. BKV DNA detection in urine and peripheral blood can be used to screen the evidence of BK reaction in order to prevent irreversible graft damage by BKV.[ Key words ] Kidney transplantation; BK virus; Kidney diseases; Decoy cells