[Mönkeberg's sclerosis: role of calcification in arterial lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus].

The number of patients with diabetes mellitus has steadily been increasing. This disease is associated with the risk for the development of micro- and macroangiopathies. One of the variants of macroangiopathy is Mönkeberg's sclerosis characterized by the presence of calcification of the media of the arterial wall. This article is a literature review reflecting the role of calcification in arterial lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus, also covering the historical aspect of studying Mönkeberg's sclerosis. Special attention is paid to its morphological forms, aetiopathogenetic mechanisms of development, taking into account contemporary studies, demonstrating mechanisms of the effect of medial arterial calcification on haemodynamics and the risk for the development of cardiovascular complications. Also presented herein are the main non-invasive and invasive methods of its diagnosis.