[Apparently severe arterial hypertension: limitations of sphygmomanometry]

Mönckeberg's sclerosis is characterized by medial arterial calcifications. This disease usually occurs in old people and the lesions are observed in distal lower limb arteries. The evolution is generally asymptomatic. The other arteries are uncommonly affected. This report concerns a patient with exceptionally extensive disease and simultaneous asymptomatic arterial hypertension. Blood pressure measured non invasively represents the force required to compress the brachial artery, and not the real blood pressure. In such patients, blood pressure should be monitored during anaesthesia through arterial cannulation.