<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Background: BK virus infection is common but is usually asymptomatic. However, it can become life threatening as severe hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) or the polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) particularly in immune compromised and transplant recipients. Some investigators have studied the pathophysiology and there are anecdotal and uncontrolled studies of therapy with few conclusions allowing treatment guidelines. Objectives: Summarize literature review of current knowledge concerning the nature, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this common virus infection. Results: HC is a not uncommon and often misdiagnosed infection from BK virus. It is usually self limited but can become life threatening in immune compromised patients. PVAN threatens survival of transplanted kidneys and is difficult to differentiate from rejection without sophisticated molecular diagnostic technology. We have sufficient information for making a diagnosis of BK virus disease by using clinical, serological and molecular technology. Studies using manipulation of immunosuppression and a variety of antiviral agents, including cidofovir, leflunomide, intravenous immunoglobulin, vidarabine, fluroquinolones, have been published but most were uncontrolled reports of few cases. Cidofovir offers some promise but more must be learned before there is hope for evidence-based treatment guidelines.</p></abstract>

Background: BK virus infection is common but is usually asymptomatic. However, it can become life threatening as severe hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) or the polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) particularly in immune compromised and transplant recipients. Some investigators have studied the pathophysiology and there are anecdotal and uncontrolled studies of therapy with few conclusions allowing treatment guidelines. Objectives: Summarize literature review of current knowledge concerning the nature, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this common virus infection. Results: HC is a not uncommon and often misdiagnosed infection from BK virus. It is usually self limited but can become life threatening in immune compromised patients. PVAN threatens survival of transplanted kidneys and is difficult to differentiate from rejection without sophisticated molecular diagnostic technology. We have sufficient information for making a diagnosis of BK virus disease by using clinical, serological and molecular technology. Studies using manipulation of immunosuppression and a variety of antiviral agents, including cidofovir, leflunomide, intravenous immunoglobulin, vidarabine, fluroquinolones, have been published but most were uncontrolled reports of few cases. Cidofovir offers some promise but more must be learned before there is hope for evidence-based treatment guidelines.

BK virus: microbiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment

Asian Biomedicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Background: BK virus infection is common but is usually asymptomatic. However, it can become life threatening as severe hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) or the...

BK virus: microbiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment

Publié en ligne: 13 avr. 2018

Pages: 3 - 18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2010-0002

Mots clés
BK-virus, clinical feature, diagnosis, epimiology, pathophysiology, polyoma virus, treatment

© 2018

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

BK virus: microbiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment

Publié en ligne: 13 avr. 2018

Pages: 3 - 18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2010-0002

Mots clésBK-virus, clinical feature, diagnosis, epimiology, pathophysiology, polyoma virus, treatment

© 2018

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mots clés
BK-virus, clinical feature, diagnosis, epimiology, pathophysiology, polyoma virus, treatment