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Increased incidence of BK virus viraemia among patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis: a case–control study
  1. Samer Fuad Swedan
  1. Correspondence to Professor Samer Fuad Swedan, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; sfswedan4{at}just.edu.jo

Abstract

Aims Incidence of BK virus (BKV) viraemia, a major risk factor for nephropathy, among patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis remains poorly investigated. This case–control study evaluated the risk of infection by BKV, in addition to hepatitis C virus (HCV) among haemodialysis subjects (n=100), compared with age-matched controls (n=100).

Methods Subjects’ blood plasma samples were subjected to nucleic acid extraction, followed by real-time PCR to evaluate viraemia by BKV and HCV, while sera samples were subjected to ELISA, to identify IgG seropositivity for HCV.

Results Mean age±SD was 47.8±20.4 and 48.9±17.6 years for the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively. BKV and HCV viraemia was observed among 19% versus 8% (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.18; p=0.023) and 3% versus 0% (p=0.081) of the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively. Mean BK viral load±SD did not vary significantly among the two groups; 914.8±2868 versus 44.30±74.04 copies/mL for the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively (p=0.4041). HCV seropositivity rates were 6% versus 2% (p=0.149), among the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively.

Conclusions Subjects on haemodialysis may be at increased risk of nephropathy due to increased incidence of BK virus reactivations and may require optimisation of immunosuppressive therapy.

  • virus
  • uropathology
  • pcr
  • kidney
  • epidemiology

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Footnotes

  • Handling editor Tony Mazzulli

  • Contributors SS was responsible for the conception and design of the study, data analysis and interpretation and manuscript preparation and submission.

  • Funding This work was supported by the Deanship of Research of Jordan University of Science and Technology (grant number 20140083).

  • Disclaimer The funding source had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing of the report and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Ethics approval Institutional Review Board of Jordan University of Science and Technology.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Data sharing statement No additional unpublished data are available.