HF01-05 JOHANN FLORIAN HELLER, PIONEER OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND APEX PREDATOR OF UROSTEALITH STONES

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyHistory of Urology Forum I (HF01)1 Sep 2021HF01-05 JOHANN FLORIAN HELLER, PIONEER OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND APEX PREDATOR OF UROSTEALITH STONES Christopher Li Christopher LiChristopher Li More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000001992.05AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Johann Florian Heller (1813–1871) was a Chemist who dedicated his life to developing the field of clinical chemistry. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed. RESULTS: Heller was born May 4th, 1813, the son of a pharmacist and eldest of ten. He graduated with a doctorate of Chemistry from the University of Prague in 1837, discovering Rhodizonic Acid as his thesis. After graduating, he began working at Allgemeines Krankenhaus in Vienna where he worked with the famous German pathologist Karl von Rokitansky, who believed that the abnormalities of bodily fluids were the origin of diseases. Influenced by this notion, Heller worked to investigate the background chemical changes in bodily fluids. Continuing his dedication to further understanding the basis for diseases, he founded the Laboratory for Pathological Chemical Research at Vienna General Hospital in 1843. He diligently worked to understand all types of diseases, looking to better understand the chemical basis and abnormalities that caused the aliments. He made great advancements studying Cholera, Bright’s Disease, Bence Jones proteinuria, as well as ascites. Additionally, he studied the composition of urine and urinary stones, noting differences in coloration, odor when heated, and reaction with other chemicals. Through this work, he developed Heller’s ring test, identifying the presence of protein in urine. He was also the editor for the Archiv für Physiologische und Pathologische Chemie und Mikroskopie, a publication focused on pathological chemistry and sharing his discoveries. Heller is also credited with discovering urostealith, a component of bladder stones, that he found in a young man from the current day Czech Republic. He discovered he could detect its presence in urine by adding specific reagents that would cause a color change to reddish-brown. Further, he found he could dissolve these stones using sodium carbonate and used this method to successfully treat his patient. He continued his work until his death in 1871, and in 1981, he was commemorated with a stamp in Austria. CONCLUSIONS: Johann Florian Heller’s work laid the foundation in many areas of medicine including urology, and he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the field of clinical chemistry. Source of Funding: none © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e228-e228 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Christopher Li More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...