MEDIAL ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION, CALCIFIC AORTIC-STENOSIS AND MITRAL ANNULAR CALCIFICATION IN A DIABETIC PATIENT WITH SEVERE AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY

Medial arterial calcification (Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis) is well described in diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy. There is als o a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus among subjects with calcific aortic stenosis and mitral annular calcification. We describe a diabet ic patient with autonomic neuropathy and extensive medial arterial cal cification who also had calcification of the aortic valve and of the m itral valve annulus. We propose that autonomic neuropathy may play a r ole in calcification of these structures at the base of the heart.