Risk factors for BK virus viremia and nephropathy after kidney transplantation: A systematic review

In the last 20 years, the management of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) reactivation in kidney transplant patients has become a true challenge for the transplant community. The only treatment option is based on the early identification of at-risk patients. The number of reported risk factors for BKPyV reactivation has increased markedly in the literature last years, although they are sometimes in an unclear or contradictory manner. Our purpose is to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for BKPyV viremia and nephropathy described in multivariate analyses. The PubMed database was searched for prospective or prospectively-based observational studies on risk factors for BKPyV viremia and/or nephropathy. Our qualitative assessment of risk factors was based on the odds ratios and hazard ratios calculated in multivariate regression analyses. Of the 241 publications screened, 34 were included in the qualitative analysis. In all, 144 and 19 distinct factors were analyzed for BKPyV viremia and for BKPyV nephropathy, respectively. Our evaluation highlighted eight risk factors for BKPyV viremia: a tacrolimus regimen, a deceased donor, a male recipient, a history of previous transplant, age at transplantation, ureteral stent use, delayed graft function, and acute rejection episodes increased the risk of BKV viremia to varying extents. Tacrolimus and acute rejection episodes were also associated with a higher incidence of BKPyV nephropathy. BKPyV reactivation is a serious complication after renal transplantation. With a view to combating this problem, existing data should be published in full, and new prospective international multicenter studies should be performed.