Dear Colleagues,

Phosphorus is essential for many fundamental functions in the human body, where it is present mainly as the anion phosphate (PO₄^3–) that forms a variety of different salts, among which skeletal hydroxyapatite is the most abundant.

Phosphate is also a key structural element of DNA, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and cell membranes and is involved in several enzymatic reactions and protein functions.

Due to its importance, phosphate homeostasis is strictly controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) through their actions on the kidney, intestine, and bone. Physicians frequently evaluate the so-called calcium/phosphate metabolism, but their main interest is usually focused on calcium, leaving the role of the “Cinderella-ion” to phosphate. Actually, since the discovery of FGF-23 in 2000, a higher attention has been paid to phosphate metabolism, and many phosphate-associated diseases have been discovered or rediscovered.

This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in the understanding of phosphate handling in the human body. We invite investigators to contribute original research articles and reviews on pathophysiologic processes, diagnosis, and treatments of phosphate-related disorders.

Dr. Fabio Vescini
Dr. Andrea Palermo
Prof. Dr. Luigi Gennari
Dr. Alberto Falchetti
Prof. Dr. Iacopo Chiodini
Guest Editors

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• Hypophosphatemia
• Hypophosphatemia
• Metabolic Bone Disease
• Tumor Induced Osteomalacia
• Rickets
• Genetics
• Renal Stone Disease
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Iron Disorders
• Endocrine Diseases
• Drug-Induced Hypophosphatemia