Kidney biopsy findings in BK associated nephropathy
What does the kidney biopsy show in BK associated nephropathy?
Biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of BK-associated nephropathy.
BK virus can induce a number of characteristic changes on kidney biopsy, including intranuclear viral inclusions, tubular injury/tubulitis, and tubulointerstitial inflammation.
Because none of these kidney biopsy findings are pathognomonic for BK-associated nephropathy, the diagnosis must be confirmed by demonstrating antibodies against BK with immunohistochemistry.