Detection, distribution, and pathologic significance of BK virus strains isolated from patients with kidney transplants, with and without polyomavirus-associated nephropathy.

Abstract

Abstract Context.—BK virus strains or regulatory region sequence variations may play a role in the pathogenesis of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), although no definite relationship has yet been demonstrated. Objective.—To investigate the pathologic significance of BK virus strains and regulatory region sequence variations. Design.—Eight (3.5%) of 226 patients with renal transplants developed PVAN; the remaining 218 cases were used as controls. From the patients who developed PVAN, 70 urine samples, 63 blood samples, and 17 renal biopsy samples were taken, and 682 urine samples, 677 blood samples, and 101 renal biopsy samples were taken from the control cases. Amplification and sequence analyses of regulatory region were obtained, and the sequences were analyzed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool program. Results.—The WWT strain was more frequently detected in PVAN cases than in the control cases (urine: 88.5% vs 22.1%; blood: 85.2% vs 40%; renal biopsies: 77.8% vs 0%), and the AS and ...