Comparison of polyomavirus (BK virus and JC viruses) viruria in renal transplant recipients with and without kidney dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant infection with polyoma viruses (BK and JC viruses) is an important cause of graft los s and nephropathy. The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of BK and JC viruria in renal transplant recipients with and without graft dysfunction. METHODS: In a case-control study, we selected 60 kidney tra nsplant patients with and without graft dysfunction in the first two years after transplantation. Each group c onsisted of 30 patients evaluated for basic demogra phic and laboratory characteristics. First morning urine samples were s ent for BK and JC virus detection with QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and real-time polymerase PCR. Chi-square test with Yate s’ correction, Student t-test and Mann-Whitney U te st were used as indicated. P value of less than 0.05 was regarded a s statistically significant. RESULTS: Both groups were similar in age, gender, and time after transplant and pretransplant dialysis. In bot h groups, seven patients (23.3%) were JC virus positive where as in case group 14 patients (46.7%) and in control group 9 patients (30%) were BK virus positive. There were no statist ical significant difference between case and contro l groups for both JC and BK virus infection rate. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that JC and BK virus infection is ver y prevalent in the first 2 years after transplant a nd might be monitored appropriately.