ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: BK virus (BKV) is a polyomavirus and cause of a common infection after renal transplantation which could be preceded to BKV-associated nephropathy. It has four main subtypes (I–IV). BKV subtypes II and III are rare, whereas subtype I shows a ubiquitous distribution. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevailing BKV subtypes and subgroups in renal transplant patients in Sri Lanka. Methods: The presence of BKV in urine was tested through virus load quantification by real-time PCR from 227 renal transplant patients who were suspected to have BKV infection. Of these patients only 41 were found to be BKV infected (>103copies/ml) and those were subjected to conventional PCR amplification of VP1 gene followed by BKV genotyping via phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequencing data. Results: Persistent BK viral loads varied from 1×103 to 3×108 copies/ml. Of the 41 patient samples, 25 gave positive results for PCR amplification of subtyping region of VP1 gene of BKV. BKV genotyping resulted in detecting subtype I in 18 (72%) and subtype II in seven (28%) patients. BKV subgroups of Ia, Ib-1 and Ib-11, and Ic were identified with frequencies of 6/18 (33.3%), 6/18 (33.3%), 5/18 (27.8%), and 1/18 (5.6%), respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: Findings from this preliminary study showed a high occurrence of subtype I, while the presence of subtype II, which is rare and less prevalent, was a novel finding for this Asian region. This emphasizes the need for further molecular and serological studies to determine the prevalence of different BKV subtypes in Sri Lanka
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease is a substantial health problem in renal transplant patients, and ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death in these patients. Renal transplant patients have many conventional risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery diaese, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and posttransplant diabetes mellitus. This study were to evaluate the prevalence of angiographically-determined coronary artery occlusive disease (CAOD) in renal transplant patients, and to identify the risk factors for significant coronary artery disease. METHODS: The retrospective study were performed in 36 patients with renal transplantation who underwent coronary angiography to diagnose ischemic heart disease. RESULTS: A total of 36 recipients (27 males, 9 females) were studied and the mean age was 51.5 years. Significant CAOD was identified in 69% of patients (1-vessel: 19%, 2: 25, 3: 25). By univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the association of clinical variables with CAOD was assessed. The interval between the diagnosis of end-stage renl disease and renaltransplantation was an independent risk factor (P<0.05). The variables such as old age, acute rejection episodes, cholesterol level, as well as the presence of obesity, and D.M,. were not associated. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of angiographically-determined CAOD in renal transplant recipients is 69%. The risk of CAOD seems to be increased in recipients with long duration of dialysis before transplantation. The early or preemptive transplantation could be recommended for preventing CAOD in renal transplantation candidates.