Abstract
Methods: :
During ROP examinations of 74 eyes from 37 infants, wide-angle images were taken bilaterally at 31-33 and 35-37 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). The semi-automated Retinal Image multiScale Analysis system was used to measure parameters for all arterioles and venules: integrated curvature (IC), diameter, and tortuosity index (TI). A reference standard diagnosis (plus vs. not plus) was defined for each eye by consensus of five experts at 35-37 weeks PMA. Weekly rate of change in parameters was compared in eyes with plus vs. not plus disease. Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for plus disease detection based on: 1) weekly rates of parameter change between 31-33 and 35-37 weeks PMA, and 2) parameter values at 35-37 weeks only.
Results: :
Weekly rates of change in all venular parameters were significantly different in eyes with plus vs. not plus disease, particularly for TI (p<0.0004) and diameter (p=0.02). Using weekly rate of change, AUC for plus disease detection was highest for venular TI (0.818) and diameter (0.702). Using the 35-37 week PMA image only, AUC was highest for venular IC (0.952) and diameter (0.760).
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • detection • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower