Técnica para diagnosticar o ceratocone / Best waveform score for diagnosing keratoconus

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To test whether corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) can discriminate between keratoconus and normal eyes and to evaluate whether the averages of two consecutive measurements perform differently from the one with the best waveform score (WS) for diagnosing keratoconus. METHODS: ORA measurements for one eye per individual were selected randomly from 53 normal patients and from 27 patients with keratoconus. Two groups were considered the average (CH-Avg, CRF-Avg) and best waveform score (CH-WS, CRF-WS) groups. The Mann–Whitney U-test was used to evaluate whether the variables had similar distributions in the Normal and Keratoconus groups. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated for each parameter to assess the efficacy for diagnosing keratoconus and the same obtained for each variable were compared pairwise using the Hanley–McNeil test. RESULTS: The CH-Avg, CRF-Avg, CH-WS and CRF-WS differed significantly between the normal and keratoconus groups (p<0.001). The areas under the ROC curve (AUROC) for CH-Avg, CRF-Avg, CH-WS, and CRF-WS were 0.824, 0.873, 0.891, and 0.931, respectively. CH-WS and CRF-WS had significantly better AUROCs than CH-Avg and CRF-Avg, respectively (p=0.001 and 0.002). CONCLUSION: The analysis of the biomechanical properties of the cornea through the ORA method has proved to be an important aid in the diagnosis of keratoconus, regardless of the method used. The best waveform score (WS) measurements were superior to the average of consecutive ORA measurements for diagnosing keratoconus.

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: Testar se a histerese corneana (CH) e o fator de resistência corneano (CRF) podem discriminar olhos com ceratocone e avaliar se a média de duas medidas consecutivas apresenta desempenho diferente da medida única com a melhor waveform score para diagnósticar o ceratocone. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas medidas do ORA de um olho por indivíduo, selecionados aleatoriamente a partir de 53 pacientes normais e de 27 pacientes com ceratocone. Dois grupos foram considerados: a média (CH-médio, o CRF-médio) e melhor waveform score (CH-WS, CRF-WS). O teste de Mann-Whitney U-teste foi utilizado para avaliar se as variáveis apresentaram distribuições semelhantes entre os grupos. As curvas (ROC) foram calculadas para cada parâmetro para avaliar eficácia no diagnóstico e as obtidas para cada variável foram comparadas usando o teste de Hanley-McNeil. RESULTADOS: CH-médio, CRF-médio, CH-WS e CRF-WS diferiram significativamente entre os grupos (p<0,001). Já as áreas sob a curva ROC para CH-médio, CRF-médio, CH-WS, e CRF-WS foram 0,824, 0,873, 0,891, 0,931, respectivamente. CH-WS e CRF-WS obtiveram AUROCs significativamente melhores do que CH-médio e CRF-médio (p=0,001 e 0,002). CONCLUSÃO: A análise das propriedades biomecânicas da córnea através do ORA demonstrou ser um método auxiliar importante no diagnóstico de ceratocone, independente do método utilizado. As melhores medidas waveform score foram superiores à média das medições consecutivas para o diagnóstico de ceratocone.