ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

BK Polyomavirus Infection is Not Associated with a Meaningful Increase in Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA

J. Fisher1, K. Vieira1, R. Burke2, R. Gohh1, R. Rogers1

1Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, 2CareDx, Brisbane, CA

Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 1358

Keywords: Kidney transplantation, Monitoring, Polyma virus

Topic: Clinical Science » Infection Disease » 26 - Kidney: Polyoma

Session Information

Session Name: Kidney: Polyoma

Session Type: Poster Abstract

Date: Monday, June 6, 2022

Session Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

 Presentation Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Hynes Halls C & D

*Purpose: Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) is a non-invasive measure of early allograft injury that has been clinically validated as a surveillance tool to detect antibody and/or cellular mediated rejection (ABMR/TCMR). Prior retrospective studies have yielded conflicting data as to whether dd-cfDNA values correlate with the magnitude of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) viremia and/or the presence of BKPyV associated nephropathy (BKAN) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

*Methods: Eligible KTRs with either a kidney transplant in the last 6 months (control group) or incident BKPyV infection (case group) were enrolled into this prospective study; those in the control group with later incident BKPyV infection were moved to the case group. All study participants underwent serial monitoring with serum BKPyV qPCR and dd-cfDNA (Allosure) assays. For this analysis, only those participants with >=3 dd-cfDNA results and without clinically evident ABMR/TCMR were included.

*Results: 49 KTRs were enrolled in the study, 39 are included in this analysis (9 excluded due to <3 dd-cfDNA results, 1 excluded due to TCMR). BKPyV infection was detected in 6 participants, 3/6 had BKPyV viremia of >10,000 cpy/mL, one of whom also had a biopsy confirming BKAN. Only one participant with BKPyV infection (peak viremia 3,000 cpy/mL) had dd-cfDNA >1%, although the timing of their BKPyV infection did not correspond to any increase in dd-cfDNA (elevated dd-cfDNA was instead correlated with culture/biopsy confirmed pyelonephritis). One additional participant with BKPyV infection had dd-cfDNA >0.5%, but the increased dd-cfDNA result again did not correspond to the timing of BKPyV infection. The three participants with BKPyV viremia of >10,000 cpy/mL did have a relative increase in dd-cfDNA as compared to their previous baseline which was temporally related to their BKPyV infection (144%, 238%, 333%), however, these relative increases were not significantly different from the (maximum) relative increase from baseline for participants in the control group without BKPyV infection (median 190%, IQR 115%).

*Conclusions: Among this group of KTRs, those with BKPyV infection had neither a corresponding elevated absolute dd-cfDNA value nor a corresponding relative increase in dd-cfDNA value significantly different from increases from baseline measured in the control group. This may suggest a potential role for dd-cfDNA to instead specifically detect concurrent or subsequent rejection associated with BKPyV infection and/or treatment (reduction in immunosuppression) for this infection.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Fisher J, Vieira K, Burke R, Gohh R, Rogers R. BK Polyomavirus Infection is Not Associated with a Meaningful Increase in Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/bk-polyomavirus-infection-is-not-associated-with-a-meaningful-increase-in-donor-derived-cell-free-dna/. Accessed May 28, 2025.

« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences