Skip to main content
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1980 Jul;35(7):490–495. doi: 10.1136/thx.35.7.490

Elastic recoil changes in early emphysema.

G W Silvers, T L Petty, R E Stanford
PMCID: PMC471319  PMID: 7434309

Abstract

An attempt was made to determine if emphysema and static lung recoil were related in a group of 65 excised human lungs. We studied 23 normal lungs, 24 lungs with an emphysema score of 5 or less, and 18 lungs with an emphysema score greater than 5. A comparison of the percentage of predicted elastic recoil revealed that both emphysema groups were significantly different from normal lungs. In addition, the total lung capacities were significantly different between the three groups. In the group with an emphysema score greater than 5 we found a linear negative correlation between the extent of emphysema and percent of predicted elastic recoil at 90% total lung capacity (r = -0.696, p < 0.01). We found a negative correlation between the percentage of predicted elastic recoil and the lung volume (r = -0.612, p < 0.01). We conclude that a significant loss of elastic recoil and a significant increase in total lung capacity occurs in the early stages of emphysema.

Full text

PDF
490

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bode F. R., Dosman J., Martin R. R., Ghezzo H., Macklem P. T. Age and sex differences in lung elasticity, and in closing capacity in nonsmokers. J Appl Physiol. 1976 Aug;41(2):129–135. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1976.41.2.129. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. COHN J. E., DONOSO H. D. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LUNG IN NORMAL MEN OVER 60 YEARS OLD. J Clin Invest. 1963 Sep;42:1406–1410. doi: 10.1172/JCI104825. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. FRANK N. R., MEAD J., FERRIS B. G., Jr The mechanical behavior of the lungs in healthy elderly persons. J Clin Invest. 1957 Dec;36(12):1680–1687. doi: 10.1172/JCI103569. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FRANK N. R., MEAD J., SIEBENS A. A., STOREY C. F. Measurements of pulmonary compliance in seventy healthy young adults. J Appl Physiol. 1956 Jul;9(1):38–42. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1956.9.1.38. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Finucane K. E., Colebatch H. J. Elastic behavior of the lung in patients with airway obstruction. J Appl Physiol. 1969 Mar;26(3):330–338. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1969.26.3.330. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GOLDMAN H. I., BECKLAKE M. R. Respiratory function tests; normal values at median altitudes and the prediction of normal results. Am Rev Tuberc. 1959 Apr;79(4):457–467. doi: 10.1164/artpd.1959.79.4.457. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gibson G. J., Pride N. B., O'cain C., Quagliato R. Sex and age differences in pulmonary mechanics in normal nonsmoking subjects. J Appl Physiol. 1976 Jul;41(1):20–25. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1976.41.1.20. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Knudson R. J., Clark D. F., Kennedy T. C., Knudson D. E. Effect of aging alone on mechanical properties of the normal adult human lung. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1977 Dec;43(6):1054–1062. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1977.43.6.1054. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Laros C. D., Kuyper C. M. The pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema (II). Respiration. 1976;33(5):325–348. doi: 10.1159/000193748. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mitchell R. S., Stanford R. E., Johnson J. M., Silvers G. W., Dart G., George M. S. The morphologic features of the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli in chronic airway obstruction: a clinicopathologic study. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1976 Jul;114(1):137–145. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1976.114.1.137. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Niewoehner D. E., Kleinerman J., Liotta L. Elastic behavior of postmortem human lungs: effects of aging and mild emphysema. J Appl Physiol. 1975 Dec;39(6):943–949. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1975.39.6.943. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Niewoehner D. E., Kleinerman J. Morphometric study of elastic fibers in normal and emphysematous human lungs. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 Jan;115(1):15–21. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1977.115.1.15. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. PERMUTT S., MARTIN H. B. Static pressure-volume characteristics of lungs in normal males. J Appl Physiol. 1960 Sep;15:819–825. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1960.15.5.819. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. PIERCE J. A., EBERT R. V. The elastic properties of the lungs in the aged. J Lab Clin Med. 1958 Jan;51(1):63–71. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. PIERCE J. A., HOCOTT J. B. Studies on the collagen and elastin content of the human lung. J Clin Invest. 1960 Jan;39:8–14. doi: 10.1172/JCI104030. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Park S. S., Janis M., Shim C. S., Williams M. H., Jr Relationship of bronchitis and emphysema to altered pulmonary function. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1970 Dec;102(6):927–936. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1970.102.6.927. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ranga V., Kleinerman J., Ip M. P., Sorensen J. Age-related changes in elastic fibers and elastin of lung. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979 Mar;119(3):369–376. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1979.119.3.369. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. SALAZAR E., KNOWLES J. H. AN ANALYSIS OF PRESSURE-VOLUME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LUNGS. J Appl Physiol. 1964 Jan;19:97–104. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1964.19.1.97. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. STEAD W. W., FRY D. L., EBERT R. V. The elastic properties of the lung in normal men and in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema. J Lab Clin Med. 1952 Nov;40(5):674–681. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Thurlbeck W. M. Aspects of chronic airflow obstruction. Chest. 1977 Sep;72(3):341–349. doi: 10.1378/chest.72.3.341. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Thurlbeck W. M., Dunnill M. S., Hartung W., Heard B. E., Heppleston A. G., Ryder R. C. A comparison of three methods of measuring emphysema. Hum Pathol. 1970 Jun;1(2):215–226. doi: 10.1016/s0046-8177(70)80035-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Thurlbeck W. M. Internal surface area and other measurements in emphysema. Thorax. 1967 Nov;22(6):483–496. doi: 10.1136/thx.22.6.483. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Thurlbeck W. M. Post-mortem lung volumes. Thorax. 1979 Dec;34(6):735–739. doi: 10.1136/thx.34.6.735. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Turner J. M., Mead J., Wohl M. E. Elasticity of human lungs in relation to age. J Appl Physiol. 1968 Dec;25(6):664–671. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1968.25.6.664. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES