[Pleural amyloidosis as a cause of excessive pleural effusions]

A 83-year-old woman known with a stable disease multiple myeloma was hospitalized frequently with dyspnoea caused by copious bilateral pleural effusions. Thoracentesis was performed repeatedly but pleural effusions returned. Extensive laboratory and radiological examinations failed to reveal the cause of the pleural effusions. Finally, after pleural biopsy the diagnosis of amyloidosis of the pleura could be made. The patient died in hospital from a stroke. Pleural amyloidosis is rarely reported and is accompanied by large uni- or bilateral pleural effusions even without amyloidosis of the heart.