title: Lung compliance and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, namely, pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is a chronic inflammatory response of the airways to noxious particles or gases, with resulting pathological and pathophysiological changes in the lung. The main pathophysiological aspects of the disease are airflow obstruction and hyperinflation. The mechanical properties of the respiratory system and its component parts are studied by determining the corresponding volume-pressure (P-V) relationships. The consequences of the inflammatory response on the lung structure and function are depicted on the volume-pressure relationships.
authors.affiliation: 4th Department of Pulmonology, Athens Hospital for Chest Diseases "Sotiria", 152 Mesogeion Street, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papandrinopoulou
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzouda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsoukalas