Decoy Cell Viruria in Kidney Transplant Patients. Does it correlate with Renal Function?

Abstract

Objective: BK virus (BKV) infection after kidney transplantation has been a topic of great interest in the recent decade. Prospective screening studies have revealed that BKVN is principally an early complication of renal transplantation occurring within the first post-transplant year in most cases. The aim of the present study was to observe the incidence of decoy cell viruria in renal transplant recipients. Furthermore, correlation of decoy cell viruria with graft function was assessed. Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted in the Transplant Center of Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran between Jun 2014 and June 2015. Clinical screening for polyomavirus infection was done by means of urine cytological evaluation for decoy cells. Urine samples were analyzed in three steps including 2-4 months after transplantation, three and six months later. Results: Thirty-three patients (22 male and 11 female) received kidney transplant from living donors. The average of patients' age was 41.9 +/- 12.83 (range: 20-63 years). Peritoneal and hemodialysis were used for 15.6 and 84.4 of recipients. The occurrence of decoy cell viruria at the time of enrollment, 3 and 6 months later was found in 18.2, 10.7 and zero, respectively. Conclusion: As urine cytology is easy to perform and of low cost, it is a useful tool for the investigation of active polyoma virus infection. Moreover, the findings advocate that the presence of decoy cells along with high creatinine is a better indicator of the virus presence.