Perception, diagnosis and management of BK polyomavirus replication and disease in paediatric kidney transplant recipients in Europe

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV)-associated nephropathy remains a challenge to the success of kidney transplantation, but its impact varies in different transplant programmes. We investigated current practice through a web-based questionnaire made available by the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation dialysis, transplantation, 2016-05, Vol.31 (5), p.842-847
Main Authors: Pape, Lars, Tönshoff, Burkhard, Hirsch, Hans H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
BK Virus - drug effects
BK Virus - immunology
BK Virus - pathogenicity
Child
Disease Management
Europe
Female
Graft Rejection - etiology
Graft Rejection - prevention & control
Graft Survival - drug effects
Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use
Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use
Kidney Diseases - complications
Kidney Diseases - therapy
Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects
Male
Perception
Polyomavirus
Polyomavirus Infections - diagnosis
Polyomavirus Infections - drug therapy
Polyomavirus Infections - immunology
Polyomavirus Infections - virology
Time Factors
Transplant Recipients
Treatment Outcome
Tumor Virus Infections - diagnosis
Tumor Virus Infections - drug therapy
Tumor Virus Infections - immunology
Tumor Virus Infections - virology
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Summary:BK polyomavirus (BKPyV)-associated nephropathy remains a challenge to the success of kidney transplantation, but its impact varies in different transplant programmes. We investigated current practice through a web-based questionnaire made available by the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN). A total of 90 physicians (23% of 391 active members) from 27 countries participated in the study. BKPyV-associated nephropathy is seen in 1-5% of patients annually with treatment success in 30-60%, and graft loss in 10%. Quantitative BKPyV load testing is available to >90% of physicians. Screening is performed in urine alone in 26%, in urine and blood in 37% and in blood alone in 37%. Most physicians (47%) screen at month 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 post-transplant. For patients with baseline renal function and plasma BKPyV loads of 10 000-1 000 000 copies/mL, 50% report performing renal biopsies prior to intervention. Intervention consists of reducing immunosuppression first with mycophenolate (Myc) in 40%, first with calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) in 29% or with both in 31%. Changing immunosuppressive drugs is considered mainly for biopsy-proven nephropathy consisting of discontinuation of Myc in 75%, and switching from CNI to mTOR inhibitors (52%). Cidofovir, intravenous immunoglobulin G, leflunomide and fluoroquinolones are used in less than one-third of this group. Furthermore, 66% of participants see a need for new antiviral drugs and new immmunosuppressive strategies, and almost 90% are willing to participate in future observational and interventional trials. This ESPN survey suggests that prompt translation of a positive screening test into reducing immunosuppression could improve outcomes.
ISSN:0931-0509
1460-2385
DOI:10.1093/ndt/gfv392