PMID: 28514587Jan 1, 2015Paper

BK Virus After Kidney Transplantation: A Review of Screening and Treatment Strategies and a Summary of the Massachusetts General Hospital Experience

Clinical Transplants
Kassem SafaDavid Wojciechowski

Abstract

BK virus (BKV) is a common infection encountered after kidney transplantation. BKV is associated with a spectrum of manifestations, starting with sub-clinical viruria, followed by viremia and BKV-associated nephropathy. Standard of care includes routine post-transplant screening for BK viruria and/or viremia. Both the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes and the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice have published screening recommendations. Although they vary slightly, they both highlight the importance of early detection with serial screening. Once BK viremia is detected, the standard management approach includes a reduction of immunosuppression. Guidelines differ slightly about the sequence of the immunosuppression reduction, but the end result is the same: lowering the overall immunosuppressive burden in the patient with BKV infection. At the Massachusetts General Hospital, from 2007 to 2009, there was no BKV screening protocol in place. The rate of screening during this time period increased from 62% to 81%. A total of 29 of the 243 patients were diagnosed with BK viremia (11.9%), with 23 identified as a result of screening and 6 as a result of testing for graft dysfunction. We de...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antivirals (ASM)

Antivirals are medications that are used specifically for treating viral infections. Discover the latest research on antivirals here.

Antivirals

Antivirals are medications that are used specifically for treating viral infections. Discover the latest research on antivirals here.

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.