Epidemiologic Study And Genotyping In Renal Transplant Recipients Bk Virus

Background: BK virus (BKV) infection occurs during childhood and remains latent in the urinary tract. The virus is reactivated in immunosuppressed patients, particularly in those with cellular immunity deficiency, allowing its detection in urine and blood. The nephropathy caused by the virus in renal transplantation receptors may lead to graft failure. The purpose of this study is to know the prevalence of BKV viral variables in renal transplantation recipients and to evaluate their clinical evolution through molecular methods of “in house” development. Methods & Materials: Urine and peripheral blood samples from 66 renal transplantation recipients from the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were systematically analyzed every three months as well as when there was graft dysfunction. Renal biopsies, which were included in the BKV detection study, were performed to those patients with graft dysfunction reasons. Genotyping of BKV and clinical follow-up of patientes was performed Results: Samples from 66 patients were analyzed, out of which 24 patients had positive urine samples, representing 36.36% of the total number. Genotyping of 24 BKV was performed and the following distribution was found: 21 (87.5%) belonged to subtype I, 3 (12.5%) to subtype II. BKV belonging to subtypes III or IV were not found. As regards subtype I subgroups, the following were identified: 1 (4.76%) from Ia, 10 (47.61%) from Ib1 and 10 (47.61%) from Ib2. Presence of subgroup Ic was not shown. Eight patients (33.33%) presented with viremia, with significant values of Viral Load. The immunosuppressive treatment was reduced. Two of them (25%) presented loss of graft function Six of the eight viremic patients had infection by genotype Ib1 (75%) Conclusion: Presence of viruria and viremia because of BKV matches the presence shown in other national and international studies Identification found by subtypes turns I into the prevailing one, showing a similar distribution among subgroups Ib1 and 1b2, these data correlate with studies performed in sewage networks in our country Genotyping could be related to the evolution of the disease in the recipient