Risk Factors for the Development of BK Virus Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients in Guilan Province during 2007-2015

Abstract Purpose: Polyomavirus nephropathy has been recognized as an important cause of silent loss of kidney transplant function in 3-5% of kidney transplant recipients. We evaluate the risk factors associated with BK virus infection in our kidney transplant recipients.Materials and Methods: We collected clinical information, urinary Decoy cell, and blood PCR tests for polyomavirus infection in our 223 kidney transplant recipients undergoing surgery at Razi hospital at Guilan University of Medical Sciences between 2007 and 2015. In case of high virus count or if plasma creatinine was elevated, a kidney biopsy would be performed. SPSS version 18 were used for analysis of data.Results: Among 223 patients, 116 (52%) were male, 107 females (48%). Mean age of participants were 49.6 years. Of 223 kidney transplant patients enrolled in this study, 41 (18.3%) had viral genome in their urine, and of these 41 patients, 15 persons (6.7%) had viral genome in their blood. Only 3 patients out of 10, have had BK Virus nephropathy in their kidney biopsy. Among risk factors, we found that post-transplant duration, and use of anti-thymocyte globulin, were most significant risk factors for finding Decoy cells in urine of patients (p<0.01).Conclusions: Post-transplant time, specially the first 6 months because of strong immunosuppression, and thereafter, use of anti-thymocyte globulin (for prophylaxis or treatment of rejection) were recognized as most important risk factors for reactivation of polyomavirus infection in our patients. We concluded that kidney transplant recipients should be monitored in episodically after transplant.