BK Virus: A Cause for Concern in Thoracic Transplantation?

Annals of Transplantation : Quarterly of the Polish Transplantation Society
Markus J Barten, Andreas Zuckermann

Abstract

Human BK polyomavirus (BKV) infection is poorly documented in heart and lung transplant patients. BK viruria and viremia have been estimated to affect 19% and 5% of heart transplant recipients, respectively. Data are limited, especially for lung transplantation, but the proportion of patients progressing from BK viruria to viremia or BKV-related nephropathy (BKVN) appears lower than in kidney transplantation. Nevertheless, a number of cases of BKVN have been reported in heart and lung transplant patients, typically with late diagnosis and generally poor outcomes. Risk factors for BKV infection or BKVN in this setting are unclear but may include cytomegalovirus infection and anti-rejection treatment. The relative infrequency of BKVN or other BK-related complications means that routine BKV surveillance in thoracic transplantation is not warranted, but a diagnostic workup for BKV infection may be justified for progressive renal dysfunction with no readily-identifiable cause; after anti-rejection therapy; and for renal dysfunction in patients with cytomegalovirus infection or hypogammaglobulinemia. Treatment strategies in heart or lung transplant recipients rely on protocols developed in kidney transplantation, with reductions in i...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 17, 2020·BMC Infectious Diseases·Thomas CrowhurstChien-Li Holmes-Liew
Feb 3, 2021·Jornal brasileiro de nefrologia : ʹorgão oficial de Sociedades Brasileira e Latino-Americana de Nefrologia·John Fredy Nieto-RíosLina María Serna-Higuita
Feb 23, 2021·Clinical Transplantation·Ravi K MallavarapuJohn K Roberts
Apr 29, 2021·Transplantation·Thida Maung MyintGermaine Wong

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
Infection
biopsies
biopsy

Software Mentioned

Cytotect

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BK Virus Infection

BK virus infection is a significant complication of modern immunosuppression used in kidney transplantation. Discover the latest research on BK virus infection here.