TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy of levofloxacin in the treatment of BK viremia
T2 - A multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
AU - Lee, Belinda T.
AU - Gabardi, Steven
AU - Grafals, Monica
AU - Hofmann, R. Michael
AU - Akalin, Enver
AU - Aljanabi, Aws
AU - Mandelbrot, Didier A.
AU - Adey, Deborah B.
AU - Heher, Eliot
AU - Fan, Pang Yen
AU - Conte, Sarah
AU - Dyer-Ward, Christine
AU - Chandraker, Anil
PY - 2014/3/7
Y1 - 2014/3/7
N2 - Background and objectives BKvirus reactivation in kidney transplant recipients can lead to progressive allograft injury. Reduction ofimmunosuppression remains the cornerstone of treatment for activeBKinfection. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are known to have in vitro antiviral properties, but the evidence for their use in patients with BK viremia is inconclusive. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of levofloxacin in the treatment of BK viremia. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Enrollment in this prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial occurred fromJuly 2009 toMarch 2012. Thirty-nine kidney transplant recipients with BK viremia were randomly assigned to receive levofloxacin, 500 mg daily, or placebo for 30 days. Immunosuppression in all patientswas adjusted on the basis of standard clinical practices at each institution. Plasma BK viral load and serum creatinine were measured monthly for 3 months and at 6 months. Results At the 3-month follow-up, the percentage reductions in BK viral load were 70.3% and 69.1% in the levofloxacin group and the placebo group, respectively (P=0.93). The percentage reductions in BK viral loadwere also equivalent at 1 month (58% versus and 67.1%; P=0.47) and 6 months (82.1% versus 90.5%; P=0.38). Linear regression analysis of serum creatinine versus time showed no difference in allograft function between the two study groups during the follow-up period. Conclusions A 30-day course of levofloxacin does not significantly improve BK viral load reduction or allograft function when used in addition to overall reduction of immunosuppression.
AB - Background and objectives BKvirus reactivation in kidney transplant recipients can lead to progressive allograft injury. Reduction ofimmunosuppression remains the cornerstone of treatment for activeBKinfection. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are known to have in vitro antiviral properties, but the evidence for their use in patients with BK viremia is inconclusive. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of levofloxacin in the treatment of BK viremia. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Enrollment in this prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial occurred fromJuly 2009 toMarch 2012. Thirty-nine kidney transplant recipients with BK viremia were randomly assigned to receive levofloxacin, 500 mg daily, or placebo for 30 days. Immunosuppression in all patientswas adjusted on the basis of standard clinical practices at each institution. Plasma BK viral load and serum creatinine were measured monthly for 3 months and at 6 months. Results At the 3-month follow-up, the percentage reductions in BK viral load were 70.3% and 69.1% in the levofloxacin group and the placebo group, respectively (P=0.93). The percentage reductions in BK viral loadwere also equivalent at 1 month (58% versus and 67.1%; P=0.47) and 6 months (82.1% versus 90.5%; P=0.38). Linear regression analysis of serum creatinine versus time showed no difference in allograft function between the two study groups during the follow-up period. Conclusions A 30-day course of levofloxacin does not significantly improve BK viral load reduction or allograft function when used in addition to overall reduction of immunosuppression.
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U2 - 10.2215/CJN.04230413
DO - 10.2215/CJN.04230413
M3 - Article
C2 - 24482066
AN - SCOPUS:84896808227
SN - 1555-9041
VL - 9
SP - 583
EP - 589
JO - Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
JF - Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
IS - 3
ER -