Biopsy-Proven BK Virus-Associated Nephropathy: Clinico-Pathologic Correlations.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to study the clinico-pathologic correlations in BK virus nephropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients with biopsy-proven polyoma (BK) virus infection. We compared their survival and renal outcomes versus BK virus-negative patients with biopsy-proven graft rejection. Histopathologic characterization by a blinded nephropathologist was performed. RESULTS: BK nephropathy was found in 10 patients biopsied for graft dysfunction. All virus-positive patients received antithymocyte globulin induction therapy compared with only 59.3% of the BK-negative group (P = .06). The percentage of patients in the BK-negative group who received acyclovir was significantly higher than that in the BK-positive group (P = .01). After a mean observation period of 6.8 ± 3.2 years, 70% of the BK group had functioning grafts compared with 68% in the BK-negative group (P = .9) with similar 3-year graft survival in the 2 groups (80% and 90%; P = .8). Within the BK group, graft survival was better in the older group (P = .005) and in those with deceased donor kidney grafts (P = .016). Patients in the BK-negative group were heavier (mean weight of 64.3 ± 12.1 vs 46.7 ± 20.6 kg; P = .003). None of the histopathologic features studied had any effect on renal prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for developing BK nephropathy were use of antithymocyte globulin, lower weight, and not using acyclovir as early prophylaxis. Within the BK nephropathy group, better graft survival was observed in deceased donor kidney recipients and in older patients. The viral load and polyoma virus nephropathy stage did not affect graft survival in this small sample study.

Effect of age and gender in the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness among a sample of the Saudi population.

The aim of this study is to assess whether the effect of gender on the excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is influenced by two confounders (age and hours of sleep per night). A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh (KAMC-R). A total of 2095 respondents answered a questionnaire that included questions regarding gender, age, hours of sleep per night, and daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The prevalence of EDS was 20.5% (females 22.2%, males 19.5%, p-value=0.136). The EDS did not differ between genders, age groups, or hours of sleep per night (<6 vs. ⩾6h). However, stratified statistical analysis shows that the prevalence of EDS did differ according to gender (25.3% in females, 19.0% in males, p-value=0.036) in respondents with shorter hours of sleep per night. EDS was strongly related to female gender and young age (ages⩽29years) in respondents with short hours of sleep. This study reveals that one out of five of the general Saudi population has EDS. The effect of gender on EDS appeared to be influenced by hours of sleep per night. High EDS strongly related to female gender with short hours of sleep.