Polyoma BK Virus

[bisley]

Has anyone here developed Polyoma BK Virus post transplant? What was the treatment and did it result in the loss of the kidney?

[DexterLab]

I have had BK, about 10 months after transplant. The docs stopped the mycophenolate and added Prednisone to let my immune system rev up some. Did weekly blood tests and saw the BK levels work back down to zero. Stopped the Prednisone and back on the mycophenolate. Has not been back.

BK can cause kidney damage if not treated which why it is on the usual test list.

[bisley in reply to DexterLab]

Thanks for the reply. I'm coming off the mycophenolate and they are putting me on leuflunamide. Glad to hear you are doing well.

[DexterLab in reply to bisley]

It took about 2 months, but at least I could see the BK levels drop every week. Good luck. This is not unusual, and the transplant teams know what to do.

[Palmtreeguy]

2 months after transplant, BKV showed up in my tests. Likely from my donor's kidney. It is quite common in the general population - but can be serious in a SMALL number of kidney transplant individuals. Its higher & detectable levels are due to the more potent anti-rejection meds we take. As my doctors continue to lower the amount of such drugs I take, the BKV values dropped to almost undetectable. I am told that the test to detect BKV is far more sensitive than 10 years ago. So what would be detected today might have not been detected 10 years ago. Good luck and don't worry a whole lot.

[metalminded]

I was diagnosed with BK about 6 months after my transplant. I went on leuflunamide and spent about a year on an infusion ( don’t recall the name) and lowered my tacrolimus and prednisone to let my immune system fight it.

It’s been 8 years. The virus is no longer detected in my blood but still is in my urine.

It damaged my kidney enough that I’m on the waitlist again but thankfully not on dialysis.