Common virus may cause serious disease in transplant patients (Available test allows antiviral therapy for previously unknown death risk)

Medical Xpress / Columbia University / JAMA Dermatology ^ | Feb. 11, 2022 | Nischay Mishra et al

[ConservativeMind]

A common virus that causes no harm in most people may be a danger to organ transplant recipients and other immunocompromised people.

Researchers found that a human polyomavirus (HPyV9) was associated with the deaths of three solid organ transplant recipients who developed a severe skin rash and then died about a year later from pulmonary and multiorgan failure.

Alhough HPyV9 has been found in the blood of transplant recipients—and may be present in up to 30% of the general population—it has not been previously linked to a human disease.

The deaths of the organ transplant recipients were initially a mystery.

To identify a culprit, the researchers turned to VirCapSeq-VERT, a technique developed by researchers in the Center for Infection and Immunity, that detects all known vertebrate viruses. Using these techniques, the researchers detected HPyV9 and found the virus was present in the skin, blood, and lungs of the three patients.

Additional tests showed the virus was not just present in the patients but was actively replicating, causing the initial skin rash and damaging the lungs.

Because of the newly identified risk, the researchers say organ transplant recipients and other immunocompromised patients should be routinely tested for HPyV9 infection.

VirCapSeq-VERT recently received approval for clinical use from New York State Department of Health.

"Since HPyV9 is not routinely tested in clinical settings, we may find it is more common than we realize," says Mishra.

Earlier detection with the new technique may improve clinical outcomes. A fourth patient with HPyV9 identified by the researchers is currently being screened for viral load to monitor disease progression and is receiving treatment.

"Our study is the first to describe immunosuppressed transplant recipients infected with HPyV9, so the risk of developing HPyV9 infection is still unknown," Gallitano says.

[ConservativeMind]

We have more than a few organ transplant recipients in our midst, so make sure this gets passed on to them.

[ConservativeMind]

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[telescope115]

Thanks for this! I’m gonna email it to my doctor Monday!👍👍