Persistent infection with human polyomavirus revealed by urinary cytology in a patient with heart transplantation. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Management after heart transplantation must deal with the twin risks of rejection and infection. Early infection with viral infection, particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV), is becoming more prevalent two to three months after transplantation. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of human polyomavirus (HPOV) infection after heart transplantation.

CASE: A 20-year-old male with a history of Kawasaki disease and who had suffered from severe congestive heart failure after a coronary artery bypass graft, underwent heart transplantation. Urinary cytology demonstrated HPOV infection, the diagnosis of which was established by the immunoperoxidase technique, in situ hybridization and electron microscopy.

CONCLUSION

The definitive diagnosis of HPOV infection after a heart transplant can be made on urinary cytology.