Amyloid infiltration of the diaphragm as a cause of respiratory failure.

Respiratory involvement with amyloidosis typically involves the tracheobronchial tree or lung parenchyma. We describe a patient with systemic amyloidosis who was respirator-dependent because of extensive amyloid infiltration of the diaphragm, with no evidence of other pulmonary amyloidosis. Diaphragmatic myopathy from amyloid should be considered in respiratory failure in amyloidosis.