BK virus studies

M. Boeckh, V. Erard, M. Huang, D. Myerson, A. Limaye

BK virus is an emerging pathogen in renal transplant recipients.   Its role in HCT is poorly defined. Several studies have been initiated to examine the role of BK virus in HCT recipients.  We have the highly sensitive TaqMan quantitative PCR assay which can be applied to urine, plasma and tissue samples.  Tissue diagnosis is performed by immunohistochemistry and in situ techniques. A cohort study looking at the significance of plasma viremia in HCT has been completed.

The following studies are presently underway:

•  Characteristics of BK viremia in HCT recipients

•  A case-control study of the association of BK plasma viremia and renal failure

•  An evaluation of the BK virus in idiopathic pneumonia

 

BK virus: Recent Publications

Erard, V., Storer, B., Corey, L., Nollkamper, J., Huang, M., Limaye, A., Boeckh, M. BK Virus Infection in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Frequency, Risk Factors and Association with Post-Engraftment Hemorrhagic Cystitis.   Clin Inf Dis 39 :1861-5, 2004 .

Parkin, R.K., Boeckh, M., Huang, M., Erard, V., Myerson, D. S pecific delineation of BK polyomavirus in kidney tissue with a digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe. Mol Cellul Probes 19:87-92, 2005.

Limaye, A.P., Smith, K.D., Cook, L., Groom, D.A., Hunt, N.C., Jerome, K., R., Boeckh, M. Polyomavirus nephropathy in native kidneys of non-renal transplant recipients.   Am J Transplant 5 :614-20, 2005 .

Erard, V., Kim, H.W., Corey, L., Limaye, A., Huang, M., Myerson, D., Davis, C., Boeckh, M.   BK DNA Viral Load in Plasma: Evidence for an Association with Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients. Blood , in press.