PATIENTS-METHOD
This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted with the participation of 30 active renal transplant centers in Turkey. Inclusion criteria were having a renal transplant, allograft biopsy-proven BKVN in patients with blood and/or urine BKV DNA positivity, and complete access to patient data. Cases without an allograft biopsy or missing data were excluded from the study. Ethics committee approval was obtained from Sakarya University Hospital, (approval date:16.12.2021; decision number: E-71522473-050.01.04-92626-539).
Demographic data of patients, primary kidney diseases, donor information, number of mismatches, immunosuppression status before transplantation, induction IS regimens, baseline serum creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR), delayed graft function (DGF) status, blood and/or urine BKV-DNA work-ups of the first 2 years after transplantation, the maintenance IS treatments, the time of BKVN diagnosis after transplantation, serum BKV DNA levels at the time of diagnosis, the creatinine, eGFR and urine protein levels at the time of diagnosis, the change in IS after diagnosis, the specific treatment for BKVN (IVIG, quinolone, cidofovir, leflunomide), if any, allograft biopsy findings, concomitant rejection status, additional treatments in cases with rejection, the creatinine, eGFR and urine protein levels 3-6 months after diagnosis of BKVN, and treatment, time elapsed between diagnosis and last clinic visit, allografts’ and patient’s final outcomes, retransplantation status, and recurrence rates after retransplantation were analyzed.
Diagnosis of BKVN, It was diagnosed in the presence of SV40 positivity and tubulointerstitial changes in kidney biopsy.