BK Virus Pneumonia with CMV Colitis in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: Successful Treatment with Non-Cidofovir Based Therapy

Abstract

BK virus (BKV) pneumonia is a rare entity especially seen in immunosuppressed patients, for which cidofovir is the used treatment option. We describe a case of a young female patient who presented for altered kidney function six months following kidney transplantation for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and was found to have BKV nephritis. Her in-hospital stay was complicated by BKV pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation, in addition to CMV colitis. She was treated with leflunomide/ciprofloxacin and ganciclovir for her pneumonia and colitis, respectively. The patient improved clinically except that her kidney function deteriorated. Leflunomide/ciprofloxacin combination may constitute an effective and safe alternative to cidofovir for the treatment of BKV pneumonia, in particular when cidofovir is not available. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 11(1):36-41.