Abstract
Background and Aims
The history of popes is an untapped treasure for historian of medicine for many reasons including i. number, ii. richness of documents available on their lives, iii. gender homogeneity, iiii. Long lasting lives, v. their affluence, vi. number of archiaters and personal physicians and surgeon of high professional level, viii. lived for many years in the same environment (Rome). Taking into consideration the availability of documents from 1100 onward (10 centuries of European history), popes represent good models to study a. the diseases of popes, b. social medicine, c. history of European universities and beyond, d. the history of hospitals, e. the history of archiaters, and f. the diseases of power.
We are studying renal stone disease in popes from St Peter to John Paul II (34-2005). Preliminary results on gouty popes have been presented at ERA-EDTA Congress in Budapest and Milan pointing that out 20 gouty pontiffs 12 were stone formers or died because of its complications and 6 popes died because of non-gouty renal stones. The goal of this study is to provide an historical outline on renal stone disease in gouty and not gouty popes reigning in the years 537-1830 (from Vigilius―the 1st stone former pope―to Pius VIII, the last gouty pope).
Methods
We have studied history of popes on many books including those authored by von Ranke, von Pastor, de Novaes, Henrion, Paravicini Bagliani, Reardon, Rendina, Ceccarelli and Cosmacini. We have also studied the histories of archiaters of Platina and Marini.
Results
25 out 193 popes were found gouty. Their mean age at start of pontiff was 64.6 and 70.6 at death, that nearly correspond to the time-course decline of age-related uric acid excretion. Thirteen of these popes had histories, signs, symptoms, and /or postmortem examination compatible with a diagnosis of renal stone disease. Six of them died with uremia, 4 were hydropics, 6 died because of stroke. In addition we have also outlined the narratives of 14 non gouty popes who had renal stone disease. The last pope affected by renal stone disease was Pius VI (1775-1779) , the last gouty popes was Pius VIII (1829-1830).
Conclusion
We have excluded from gouty popes Alexander VII erroneously defined gouty by Giuseppe De Novaes in 1815 and also excluded John IX since his gout―hypothesized by Wendy J Reardon in 1971―is not supported by documents. There are a few available specific data on the topic. A fundamental contribution was published by Lorenzo Gualino in 1934. He reported on 19 gouty popes, 12 of whom with histories or signs, or symptoms, and/or postmortem examination confirming renal stone diseaase. He also reported on 8 non gouty popes suffering from or died of renal stone disease. The findings should be matched also with those of Giovanni Ceccarelli (2001) who reported on 11 gouty popes 6 presenting with signs of stones and five dying anuric and/or hydropic.
This paper includes on all popes with renal stone disease. Stroke and heart failure in gouty popes are a priority. In the last 2 centuries renal stone disease was no more a papal disease.
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