title: Phosphorus: the philosopher's stone discovered in 1669.
abstract: Recently the importance in nephrology of phosphorus as phosphate has been highlighted by chronic renal failure patients, in whom the toxic effect of phosphate is widely acknowledged, given the association of phosphate serum level with cardiovascular risk. This association is not limited to chronic renal failure and hemodialysis patients as high serum phosphate. Recently high serum phosphate levels were associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in subjects free from chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease as well, and with progression of atherosclerosis. It is useful to know the history of phosphorus from its discovery in 1669, because that history gives us more evidence to better understand the negative and/or toxic effects of high phosphate serum levels and to identify phosphorus as a physiologically crucial anion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. visavica@tin.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Savica
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mallamace
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monardo
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Lorenzo A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Calò
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li Vecchi
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Muraca
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellinghieri
mesh_terms: D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D008374:Manuscripts, Medical as Topic / Q000266:history; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000266:history* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus