BK virus excretion in acquired immunocompromised children: A comparison between kidney transplant recipients and steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND: BK virus (BKV) is ubiquitous in human beings. Virus reactivation may occur in immunocompromised settings. The aim of this study was to compare BKV excretion in acquired immunocompromised children (kidney transplant recipients and steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome) with normal population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty one participants less than 20 years were recruited in the case-control study from June 2009 to December 2010. The participants consisted of 40 patients with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (subgroup 1), 39 kidney transplant recipients (subgroup 2) and 52 normal populations as control group. The first morning urine samples were analyzed in duplicate by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for BKV. RESULTS: Nine participants out of 131 had positive results for BKV. Three patients in subgroup 1 (7.5%), two patients in subgroup 2 (5.1%) and six people (11.5%) in the control group had positive PCR results for urinary BKV. No significant difference was noted among groups, P = 0.53. The mean of glomerolar filtration rates in participants with positive and negative results for BKV were 125.5 ± 30.8 ml/min/m(2) and 132.2 ± 42.5 ml/min/m(2) respectively, P = 0.8. CONCLUSION: Acquired immunocompromised conditions did not increase the chance of urine BKV excretion in our study.