Korean J Pathol.  2001 Apr;35(2):168-171.

Polyomavirus Renal Infection Confirmed by Electron Microscopy in a Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: An Autopsy Case Report

• Kim NR
• Kim BK
• Chi JG

Abstract

Polyomavirus infection commonly occurs in childhood and adolescence, remaining in a latent status and reactivated in an immunocompromised status. We report herein an autopsy case of HIV-positive 41-year-old male, who succumbed to disseminated Kaposi sarcoma and cytomegalovirus infection involving the gastrointestinal tract, lung and brain. The involved kidney showed minimal inflammatory infiltrates and tubular injury: the nuclei of tubular epithelial cells were markedly enlarged with central clearing and peripheral chromatin margination or bore basophilic nuclear inclusions. Inclusion-bearing tubular epithelial cells were negative for the viral immunostains including herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus and adenovirus. Electron microscopy disclosed 42 nm intranuclear viral particles compatible with the BK polyomavirus. The viral particles were icosahedral in paracrystalline array and nonenveloped.

Keyword

Polyomavirus; HIV; Kidney; Electron Microscopy

MeSH Terms

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome*
Adenoviridae
Adolescent
Adult
Autopsy*
Basophils
BK Virus
Brain
Chromatin
Cytomegalovirus Infections
Epithelial Cells
Gastrointestinal Tract
Herpesvirus 4, Human
HIV
Humans
Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies
Kidney
Lung
Male
Microscopy, Electron*
Polyomavirus Infections
Polyomavirus*
Sarcoma, Kaposi
Simplexvirus
Virion
Chromatin