After unilateral sympathectomy the incidence of calcified
arteries on the side of operation was significantly higher than that on the contralateral
side (88% versus 18%, p less than 0.01).
Of 20 patients who had no evidence of calcinosis
pre-operatively, 11 developed medial calcification after unilateral operation exclusively
on the side of sympathectomy. In seven patients calcinosis was detected in both feet after
bilateral operation. In conclusion, sympathetic denervation is one of the causes of
Monckeberg's sclerosis regardless of diabetes mellitus.
Goebel FD, Fuessl HS.
Diabetologia. 1983 May;24(5):347-50.