BK Virus

[Alkaline1]

I am one month post kidney transplant however I have a BK virus that is freaking me out I do labs twice a week and it went from 0 to 57 to 461 to 12,000 haven’t got results from today but would greatly appreciate if anyone can share their experience with me to help me understand what to expect. Thank you

[Hidden]

Howdy…Sorry to hear you have Bk. Congrats on the transplant though. I had BK about 10 months after transplant. To be sure, I was shocked and discouraged at the initial lab results. If I recall, my bk maxed at 8400 copies. As is pretty much the standard, initial protocol — they reduced my TAC. this allows your natural immunity to ramp up and fight the virus. That was all that was needed in my case. The virus was undetectable after 2 or 3 labs — about 5-6 weeks.

if possible, let your doctors do the worrying for you. Worrying, which I also do, doesn’t help your body with recovery.

Sending positive vibes you way.

[Hidden]

Forgot to mention something in my first post. My doc, the head of transplant nephrology, said to me “oh, every other transplant patient seems to get bk.” My dad, also a kidney recipient, had the virus 13 years ago. Anyway, in some weird way, my doctors words were reassuring to me — relaying some of the little hiccups of getting a new organ.

[-8754]

Hello, I am 3 years post TP and I have BK Virus. I contracted from the transplant but new this would happen based on all the pre testing. My sister donated her kidney to me and she contracted BK when she was in her teens. My numbers are perfect all around. Yes, for the first year, I was frequently tested to monitor the BK levels. Once a year went by, my TP team adjusted my meds and my BK numbers are within acceptable parameters. Don’t over think it, it can become a problem, but you have already been through the hard part. Good luck!

[DexterLab]

I had BK ramp up 9 months after my transplant. They stopped the Mycenpholate and added Prednisone, kept the tacro. This let my immune system knock the BK back in a few weeks, then off the Prednisone and back on the Mycenpholate. Not unusual. Apparently most people get BK as a youth, and it is not an issue until you get immunosuppressed. P

[littlelinda50]

I still don't understand why everyone freaks out about the bk virus. I show at least every other month I have it and my transplant team does nothing. When I bring g it up I am told its just fine. Now are you showing antibodies or showing you have it or had it sometime in your life?