Abstract

Background & Objective:Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), mainly caused by the BK virus, is one of the most important infectious complications of kidney transplantation. The leading histopathologic characteristics of PVAN is viral cytopathic effects, such as nucleomegaly with smudged or clumped chromatin and intranuclear ground-glass inclusion, mostly in tubular epithelial cells. Moreover, tubular necrosis, tubulitis, interstitial inflammation, atrophy, and fibrosis have been noted. Positive immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for SV-40 highlights the infected epithelial cells of renal tubules.Methods:A total of 85 core needle biopsies of transplanted kidneys were evaluated histologically and were stained for SV-40 using the IHC method. In addition, a follow-up of graft failure was performed.Results:Our findings revealed that the frequency of polyomavirus infection in kidney transplant patients in the Northeast of Iran is 4.7%. There was no significant correlation between PVAN and graft rejection. Although a higher rate of graft loss was observed in PVAN patients, in comparison with non-PVAN patients (25% vs. 14.8%), the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, patients with immunohistochemically confirmed PVAN and those with histopathologic features of viral-like cytopathic effects had significantly lower graft survival in the follow-up period (42.5 vs. 196.8 months and 109.4 vs. 205.7 months, respectively).Conclusion:The frequency of polyomavirus infection in kidney transplant patients in the Northeast of Iran is 4.7%. There was no significant correlation between PVAN and graft rejection. Furthermore, we observed that polyomavirus infection accelerates the course of graft loss.

Highlights

  • Shirin Taraz Jamshidi1, Khadijeh Sajjadian2*, Maryam Emadzadeh3, Malihe Saber Afsharian4, Mahmoud Reza Kalantari1, Anita Alenabi5, Abbas Ali Zeraati1, Ali Emadzadeh6

  • Our findings revealed that the frequency of polyomavirus infection in kidney transplant patients in the Northeast of Iran is 4.7%

  • Human polyomaviruses are the members of the polyomaviridae family, which includes ubiquitous viruses, such as the BK virus and JC virus

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Summary

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the frequency of PVAN in the allograft kidney biopsies and

Methods
Results
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