[Reference values of pulmonary compliance (author's transl)].

Pulmonary compliance has been measured, using a classical method in 156 healthy subjects aged between 18 and 74 years, breathing spontaneously. Pulmonary compliance (ml-cmH2O-1) was related to height in meters (H) by an allometric relationship such as C = aHb. As b was not significantly different from three, than C/H3 ratio was studied. This ratio was not dependent on age so that it was possible to establish that, in men, C (ml-cmH2O-1) = 36.6 H3 (m) and in women, C (ml-cmH2O-1) = 33.3 H3 (m). These two relationships were significantly different. From these relationships and from reference values of pulmonary volumes, specific pulmonary compliance could be calculated but since confidence limits were very wide, their utilization is limited. Furthermore, it is difficult to apply specific compliance in respiratory impairment.