BKPyV DNAemia in Kidney Transplant Recipients Undergoing Regular Screening: A Single-Centre Cohort Study.

Journal: Microorganisms
Published Date:

Abstract

Infection with BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a common opportunistic infection after kidney transplantation (KT) and may affect graft function. We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of BKPyV DNAemia in a prospective cohort of 601 KT recipients transplanted from 2012 to 2020. BKPyV PCR on plasma was performed at days 60, 90, 180, 270, and 360 post-KT. Any BKPyV DNAemia was defined as a single BKPyV DNA of ≥1000 copies/mL. Severe BKPyV DNAemia was defined as two consecutive BKPyV DNA of ≥10,000 copies/mL. Cumulative incidences were investigated using the Aalen-Johansen estimator, and the risk factors were investigated in Cox proportional hazard models. The incidence of any BKPyV DNAemia and severe BKPyV DNAemia was 21% (18-25) and 13% (10-16) at one year post-KT, respectively. Recipient age > 50 years (aHR, 1.72; 95% CI 1.00-2.94; = 0.049), male sex (aHR, 1.96; 95% CI 1.17-3.29; = 0.011), living donors (aHR, 1.65; 95% CI 1.03-2.74; = 0.045), and >3 HLA-ABDR mismatches (aHR, 1.72; 95% CI 1.01-2.94; = 0.046) increased the risk of severe BKPyV DNAemia. Any BKPyV DNAemia was associated with an increased risk of graft function decline (aHR, 2.26; 95% CI 1.00-5.12; = 0.049), and severe BKPyV DNAemia was associated with an increased risk of graft loss (aHR, 3.18; 95% CI 1.06-9.58; = 0.039). These findings highlight the importance of BKPyV monitoring post-KT.

Authors

  • Daniel B Rasmussen
    Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases 8632, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Dina L Møller
    Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases 8632, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Sebastian R Hamm
    Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases 8632, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Álvaro H Borges
    Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Alex C Y Nielsen
    Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Nikolai S Kirkby
    Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Søren S Sørensen
    Department of Nephrology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Susanne D Nielsen
    Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases 8632, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Keywords

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