Transferrin Saturation Can Serve as a Novel Biomarker for Predicting the Occurrence and Development of BK Virus-Related Nephropathy After Kidney Transplantation

Yongchuang Yan; Zhigang Wang; Yonghua Feng; Yang Qiu; Yuanbo Qi; Fumin Cheng; Yi Feng; Di Zhang; Guiwen Feng; Wenjun Shang

doi:10.1002/jmv.70213

Transferrin Saturation Can Serve as a Novel Biomarker for Predicting the Occurrence and Development of BK Virus-Related Nephropathy After Kidney Transplantation

J Med Virol. 2025 Mar;97(3):e70213. doi: 10.1002/jmv.70213.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Renal Transplantation, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
² Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
³ Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Abstract

BK polyomavirus reactivation is a common complication after kidney transplantation, affecting the long-term survival of the transplanted kidney. However, it is unclear whether iron levels affect BKPyV reactivation after kidney transplantation. We first found that preoperative transferrin saturation levels in renal transplant recipients were closely associated with post-transplant BK virus reactivation and progression.

Keywords: BK polyomavirus; biomarker; nomogram; renal transplantation; transferrin saturation.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
BK Virus* / physiology
Biomarkers* / blood
Female
Humans
Kidney Diseases* / diagnosis
Kidney Diseases* / virology
Kidney Transplantation* / adverse effects
Male
Middle Aged
Polyomavirus Infections* / diagnosis
Polyomavirus Infections* / virology
Transferrin* / analysis
Tumor Virus Infections* / diagnosis
Tumor Virus Infections* / virology
Virus Activation

Substances

Transferrin
Biomarkers

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 82270792 and 82370757).