BLOOD PHOSPHORUS: ITS RELATION TO CANCER AND ANEMIA

Abstract

Moraczewski,¹ in 1895, demonstrated abnormally low values for the total phosphorus content of the whole blood in certain cases of cancer and these findings suggested to Groebly² and others that diagnostic significance might be attached to the phosphorus content of the blood. Groebly has reported an increased total phosphorus content of the whole blood of patients suffering from cancer, and at the same time has recognized a relationship between it and the number of red corpuscles per unit volume of blood. To show this relationship he has made use of what he terms the "phosphorus quotient" represented by the expression, P/R, where P is the total phosphorus, as phosphorus pentoxid, in 10 c.c. of whole blood and R is the number of millions of red corpuscles in 1 c.mm. of blood. Groebly considers that in normal persons the phosphorus quotient ranges from 2.64 to 2.92 and that it has a