Polyomavirus viruria in bone marrow transplant recipients: Lack of correlation with clinical symptoms

Background: Human polyomavirus (HPV) infection is controversially discussed as a factor influencing the outcome of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Patients and Methods: Here we report on 62 patients undergoing BMT with clinical signs of urocystitis, such as micro- or macrohematuria with more or less severe dysuria. These patients were tested for the presence of HPV in urine specimens (n = 80) by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: HPV viruria was found in 35 patients (56%); 33 (94%) of them had hemorrhagic cystitis, whereas two (6%) were suffering from dysuria only. Among the patients with hemorrhagic cystitis, ten (30%) presented with macrohematuria, four (12%) with microhematuria and 19 (58%) with micro- or macrohematuria and severe dysuria. 26 of 27 HPV-negative patients (96%) showed hemorrhagic cystitis with either macrohematuria (n = 7) (26%) or microhematuria (n = 15) (56%). Four patients (15%) suffered from hematuria and dysuria, one patient (4%) from dysuria only. Conclusion: Although HPV-negative patients tended to present with less severe clinical symptoms, overall no statistically significant influence on the outcome of BMT was seen.