Pressure-volume characteristics of excised human lungs: effects of sex, age, and emphysema.

Static deflationary pressure-volume curves were obtained in 28 emphysema-free (18 male and 10 female) and 39 emphysematous excised human lungs inflated to a maximum transpulmonary pressure (Pl) of 30 cmH2O. In emphysema-free lungs, the lung volumes at Pl 30 cmH2O (V30) were significantly related to body length in males and were significantly larger than predicated total lung capacity in vivo. However, corrected for stature (V30/body length), there was no significant age correlation. In both males and females, highly significant correlations between the PL at 50--90% V30 and age were obtained. There were no significant differences in these regressions between males and females. The emphysematous lungs were divided into three groups with increasing emphysema grades. Progressive decreases in the PL at 50--90% V30 and increases in the V30 were seen in the groups with increasing degrees of emphysema. Significant changes occurred in these measurements even in group 2 with mild emphysema, suggesting that the lesions of emphysema are not directly responsible for these changes.