BKV infection and hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplant

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2005 Apr-Jun;18(2):309-16. doi: 10.1177/039463200501800213.

Abstract

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a well-known complication after allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) and can be related to adenovirus or human polyomavirus BK (BKV) infections. In this study a group of 20 patients after allogeneic BMT has been examined. BMT urine samples were analysed for the presence of Adenovirus and BKV DNAby means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 5/20 BMT patients developed HC after BMT. The presence of BKV DNA in urine samples was evident in 3/15 patients without HC and in 5/5 patients with HC. In 2/5 HC-patients the BKV DNA was not found after therapy with Cidofovir and Ribavirin. The search for adenovirus DNA in all samples was negative. The analysis of BKV non-coding control region (NCCR) isolated from urine samples revealed a structure very similar to the archetype in all samples. The RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism assay) showed the presence of BKV subtypes I and IV, with the prevalence of subtype I (4/5). This study supports the hypothesis that HC is mainly related to BKV rather than to adenovirus infection in BMT patients. Moreover, since BKV subtype I was predominant, it is reasonable to hypothesize that a specific BKV subtype could be associated with the development of HC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Adenoviridae / isolation & purification
  • Adenoviridae Infections / urine
  • Adenoviridae Infections / virology
  • Adult
  • BK Virus / genetics
  • BK Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Cystitis / urine
  • Cystitis / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / analysis*
  • DNA, Viral / urine
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / urine
  • Hemorrhage / virology*
  • Humans
  • Locus Control Region / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Polyomavirus Infections / urine
  • Polyomavirus Infections / virology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Urine / virology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral