BK polyomavirus infection following COVID-19 infection in renal transplant recipients: a single-center experience

Abstract

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial and No Derivatives License (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution of the material without any modifications, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original works properly cited. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the transplantation community worldwide. Reports of transplant patients acquiring COVID-19 infections are extensive with diverse mortality rates [1]. Follow-up studies of COVID-19 in transplant communities are lacking. There are limited data on the association of the BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) with active COVID-19 infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) [2,3]. Currently, theoretical concerns exist related to graft dysfunction or loss during the post-COVID-19 follow-up period in KTRs. This study aimed to explore the clinical profile, outcomes, and follow-up experiences of KTR patients who developed BKPyV after COVID-19. This was a single-center retrospective analysis of a study approved by our Institutional Ethical Board (ECR/143/Inst/GJ/2013/RR19 with application No: EC/App/20Jan21/08) and was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. KTR patients admitted for COVID-19 infection during the study period from June 2020 to December 2020 who developed BKPyV after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis were included. We conducted extended and close monitoring and follow-up BK polyomavirus infection following COVID-19 infection in renal transplant recipients: a single-center experience