Survey of BK Virus in Renal Transplant Recipients in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BK virus (BKV) infection in renal transplant (RT) recipients can cause hemorrhagic cystitis, transient renal dysfunction, and BKV nephropathy (BKVN). The prevalence and significance of BKV in RT recipients remain to be clarified in the Iranian population. The purpose of this review is to summarize the overall prevalence of BKV infection in RT recipients from previously published studies in Iran. Methods: We systematically reviewed articles through a comprehensive search of the main electronic and Persian national databases up to November 2019. Results: The overall pooled prevalence of BKV infection among the Iranian population was 23% (95% CI; 15–33%). Comparing these studies revealed that the prevalence of BKV in plasma samples ranges from 3 to 40%, in renal biopsies 1–13%, and in urine samples 10–49%. Due to substantial heterogeneity among reported studies ( I ² = 93%, p < 0.01), random-effect meta-analysis was performed. BKV infection rate was slightly higher in women than men (16%, p = 0.04 vs. 14%, p < 0.01, respectively). The majority of the studies employed real-time PCR (24%, I ² = 93, p < 0.01) and analyzed plasma samples alone or in combination with other types of specimens. BKV prevalence from 5 cities among the Iranian population showed a higher prevalence rate in Guilan. Conclusion: Our analysis provides a preliminary estimate of the epidemiology of BKV infection in RT recipients in Iran. These results arouse a need for more epidemiological studies of BKV infection in different unanalyzed regions in Iran. Early detection of BKV in RT recipients helps timely nephropathy diagnosis and prevents graft loss.