A bit about BK virus nephropathy screening

The recommendations of the 2003 consensus conference are that all renal transplant recipients should be screened for BK virus replication in the urine: (1) every 3 months during the first 2 years post-transplant; (2) when allograft dysfunction is noted; and (3) when allograft biopsy is performed. A positive screening result should be confirmed within 4 weeks and assessed by quantitative assays (e.g. BK viral load in plasma or urine).

Definitive diagnosis of BKVIN requires allograft biopsy. If BKVIN and concurrent acute rejection is diagnosed, antirejection treatment should be considered, followed by reduction in immunosuppression.