BK viraemia as a cause of anaemia in after ABO-incompatible liver transplant: a case report

Lucy McMullen; Liane Khoo; Lyndal Anderson; Simone Strasser; David M Gracey

doi:10.1186/s12879-023-08601-5

BK viraemia as a cause of anaemia in after ABO-incompatible liver transplant: a case report

BMC Infect Dis. 2023 Sep 18;23(1):609. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08601-5.

Authors

Lucy McMullen^{1

2}, Liane Khoo³, Lyndal Anderson^{4

5}, Simone Strasser^{4

6}, David M Gracey^{7

4}

Affiliations

¹ Renal Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. lucypatrice.mcmullen@health.nsw.gov.au.
² University of Sydney School of Medicine, Camperdown, Australia. lucypatrice.mcmullen@health.nsw.gov.au.
³ Institute of Haematology, Sydney Local Health District, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
⁴ University of Sydney School of Medicine, Camperdown, Australia.
⁵ Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ A W Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Renal Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Background: While anaemia following liver transplant is common, anaemia in the context of BK viraemia is not a commonly recognised phenomenon.

Case presentation: We present the case of 59-year old gentleman with severe anaemia in the context of BK viraemia and nephropathy following ABO incompatible liver transplant. Severity of anaemia appeared to correlate with high titres of BK virus in the serum. Bone marrow biopsy revealed hypocellular marrow with normal cytogenetics. Anaemia improved with treatment with cidofovir, intravenous immunoglobulin, reduction in immunosuppression and erythropoietin stimulating agent.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case of anaemia post liver transplant contributed to by BK viraemia.

Keywords: Anaemia; BK viraemia; Liver transplant.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Anemia, Aplastic*
BK Virus*
Humans
Liver
Liver Transplantation* / adverse effects
Male
Middle Aged
Viremia