*Purpose: Ureteric stents are used in Kidney Transplantation, to reduce the incidence of ureteric leaks. There have been a few studies suggesting that placement of ureteric stents predisposes to BK polyoma virus activation. In our program we have two kidney transplant surgeons, one using ureteric stents routinely and the other not. This gives an opportunity to assess the role of ureteric stents in BK virus activation after kidney transplantation.

*Methods: Retrospective chart review of all kidney transplants done in our center, over the last 10 years from January 2007 to December 2017 was done, and all patients had at least 1 year follow up. Whole blood BK virus PCR was done as part of routine transplant follow up starting at 4 weeks post transplant and repeated monthly for the first three months and the two monthly for the first year and every 4 months during the next two years. The study was approved by the IRB of Boston University.

*Results: A total of 406 transplants were done in 401 patients. Five patients had an early graft loss and were re-transplanted during the study period. Ten kidney recipients died, within the first year after transplantation and 11 other patients had an early graft loss and thus a total of 385 kidney transplants were included in our study and their data analyzed. Of these 189 had a ureteric stent placed and 196 did not. A total of 63(16.3%), patients developed BK viremia, 29 (15.3%) with ureteric stent, and 34 (17.3%) without a stent. Of those developing viremia 34 (16 with stent and 18 without stent) first developed BK viremia in the first 6 months after transplantation, 15 (4 with stent and 11 without stent ) in the next 6 months. Fourteen (9 with ureteric stent and 5 without stent) developed BK Viremia more than 12 months after transplantation.

*Conclusions: There is no statistical difference in the likelihood of development of BK viremia whether an ureteric stent is placed or not, especially in the first six months after transplantation.

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