Abstract
BACKGROUND: The long-term effect of viral infections on graft dysfunction and rejection after renal transplantation is uncertain.
METHODS: A cohort of 37 renal transplant recipients was followed prospectively for 3 years. Creatinine clearance rate at 6 months and 3 years and chronic allograft nephropathy were correlated with the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 and BK virus DNA, CMV disease, and acute rejection.
RESULTS: CMV disease was significantly associated with poor graft function at 6 months, whereas chronic allograft nephropathy was associated with graft dysfunction at 3 years. Both CMV disease and detection of human herpesvirus 6 DNA were associated with chronic allograft nephropathy.
CONCLUSIONS: CMV disease was a significant cause of early graft dysfunction, whereas the presence of chronic allograft nephropathy was the main determinant of poor long-term graft function. The role of viral infections in chronic allograft nephropathy deserves further investigation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 576-8 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Transplantation |
| Volume | 74 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Aug 2002 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- BK Virus
- Chronic Disease
- Cohort Studies
- Cytomegalovirus Infections
- DNA, Viral
- Herpesvirus 6, Human
- Humans
- Kidney
- Kidney Diseases
- Kidney Transplantation
- Prospective Studies
- Transplantation, Homologous