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Prevalence and Risk Factors of BK Viremia and Clinical Impact of BK Virus Surveillance on Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES
BK virus is a polyomavirus that can cause nephropathy and graft loss after kidney transplant. The aim of our study was to screen the BK viremia prevalence, to understand the value of the inter-vention for BK virus nephropathy, and to determine the risk factors associated with BK viremia after kidney transplant in our center.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our retrospective cross-sectional study included 91 adult kidney transplant recipients who were seen between 2015 and 2017 and who had follow-up from 1 month to over 2 years. BK viremia was evaluated by use of plasma quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence of BK viremia and the clinical treatments and outcomes of BK virus nephropathy were assessed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of BK viremia was 5.5% (5/91 patients). BK virus nephropathy was confirmed by allograft biopsy in 4.4% (4/91 patients) of all patients. Delayed graft function was found to be an independent risk factor for BK viremia (P < .001). Patients with BK viremia had significantly higher serum creatinine levels (P = .04). Patients who were diagnosed with BK viremia at 1 to 5 years after kidney transplant had higher serum creatinine (P = .02) and uric acid levels (P = .02). After reduction or discontinuation of calcineurin inhibitor, BK virus was cleared in all patients with BK virus nephropathy, with higher level of serum creatinine but no graft loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed graft function was considered as a risk factor for viremia. Early detection of BK viremia replication is important. The strategy of reduction of immunosuppression was effective for BK virus nephropathy and graft function improvement.