BK Virus Nephropathy in Kidney Transplantation: An Approach Proposal and Update on Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment

S Gonzalez; D P Escobar-Serna; O Suarez; X Benavides; J F Escobar-Serna; E Lozano

doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.05.010

BK Virus Nephropathy in Kidney Transplantation: An Approach Proposal and Update on Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Transplant Proc. 2015 Jul-Aug;47(6):1777-85. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.05.010.

Authors

S Gonzalez¹, D P Escobar-Serna², O Suarez², X Benavides², J F Escobar-Serna³, E Lozano⁴

Affiliations

¹ Organ and Tissues Transplant Group, Surgery Department, Medical School, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: sg.velez@gmail.com.
² Organ and Tissues Transplant Group, Surgery Department, Medical School, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
³ Internal Medicine and Critical Care, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
⁴ Organ and Tissues Transplant Group, Surgery Department, Medical School, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia.

PMID: 26293050
DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.05.010

Abstract

BK virus belongs to Polyomaviridae family; it causes 95% of nephropathy cases related to polyomavirus, with the other 5% caused by JC virus. Nephropathy jeopardizes graft function, causing a premature failure of the graft in 1%-10% of patients with kidney transplants. Nowadays, antiviral effective treatment is unknown, which is why blood and urine screening of renal transplantation patients has become the most important recommendation to guide the decrease of immunosuppression, and the only proven method to decrease poor outcomes. Different interventions, such as cidofovir, leflunomide, fluoroquinolones, and intravenous immunoglobulin, have been attempted with no improvement at all. This review aims to summarize the most relevant features of BK virus, historical issues, transmission mechanisms, risk factors, and therapeutic interventions.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
BK Virus*
Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
Kidney Diseases / diagnosis*
Kidney Diseases / therapy
Kidney Diseases / virology
Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
Polyomavirus Infections / diagnosis*
Polyomavirus Infections / therapy
Polyomavirus Infections / virology
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome
Tumor Virus Infections / diagnosis*
Tumor Virus Infections / therapy
Tumor Virus Infections / virology

Substances

Antiviral Agents
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous