Javier Arias Stella (August 2, 1924-) is a Peruvian pathologist[1] who discovered the "Arias-Stella's phenomenon" (or "reaction"), which is named after him.[2]
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Javier's undergraduate studies were done first at the San Marcos National University's School of Science from 1942–44 and then at the Faculty of Medicine from 1945–51, from which he earned his Bachelor's in 1951. His Doctorate was also earned from the Faculty in 1959.[3]
The Arias-Stella reaction, as discovered by Javier, found that a reaction previously thought of as cancer that occurred in the endometrium was actually normal reactions of hormones from placental tissue.[2][3][4][5] It can also refer to changes occurring in the cervix.[6]
Later in his life, Javier became involved in researching how altitude changes in the Andes affected anatomy and histology in human beings, men specifically. It had long been thought that the multiple cases of pulmonary hypertension in Andes men came from the altitude they lived in. Javier's research showed that "hypoxia-induced thickening of the pulmonary arteriolar walls" was the main cause for the hypertension. Considering that the natives had no access to vasodilators, their cases of hypertension were found to be different than known cases of acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.[7]
Javier began teaching as an Instructor in Pathology by 1949 in the same University and Faculty that he already was attending. Over time he became Senior Lecturer Clinical Pathology. In 1961, he founded the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, where he began as a Associate Professor of Pathology. By 1969, he was Principal Professor and then Head of the Pathology Department by 1975. He became the Consulting Professor for the National University of Caracas in 1974 and then the same for the Central University of Venezuela in 1975. He continued to have various professional standings in many hospitals in both South America and the United States. He also traveled as a visiting professor to many universities in the US.[3]
Because of his professionalism, Javier was asked to join multiple medical societies, including the American Association of Pathologists and the International Academy of Pathologists. Furthermore, he went on to found the International Society of Gynecological Pathology, the Latin American Society of Pathology, and the Peruvian Society of Pathology.[3]
He was public health minister from 1963–65 and 1966–68 and became the foreign minister of Peru from 1980 to 1983 because of his involvement in the Belaunde regime.[8][9] Javier was the foreign minister during the Paquisha War in 1981 with Ecuador. During the early skirmishes over an outpost in Paquisha, Javier was quoted in newspapers as stating that Peru would proceed to recapture the rest of the territory that Ecuadorian forces were encroaching on.[10]
In 1984 and 1985, he served as the President of the United Nations Security Council.[11]
He is currently married to one Nancy Castillo Arias Stella and also has four children, Patricia, Javier, José Luis and Fernando.[3]
