Reproducibility of color Doppler imaging

Ingeborg Stalmans, Brent Siesky, Thierry Zeyen, Steffen Fieuws, Alon Harris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study were: (1) to determine the intra-subject and inter-observer variability of color Doppler imaging (CDI) measurements and readings of the retrobulbar blood vessels, (2) to compare the difference in variability of CDI parameters in non-glaucomatous controls versus glaucoma patients, and (3) to provide calculations of minimum sample sizes for future CDI studies. Methods: Patients with normal tension glaucoma (n=28), primary open-angle glaucoma (n=19) and non-glaucomatous controls of comparable age (n=22) underwent CDI on two occasions 1 month apart. Variability in CDI parameters was quantified using (within-subject) coefficients of variation. Based on this variability, minimum sample sizes were calculated to guide the design of future studies comparing CDI between and within groups. Results: In general, within-subject coefficients of variation for measurements 1 month apart were comparable to previously reported short-term variations. Variability was higher in glaucoma patients than in non-glaucomatous controls. The minimum sample size required for glaucomatous study populations is larger than for non-glaucomatous controls. Smaller patient groups are required to detect change using the peak systolic blood flow velocities than using end diastolic velocities. Studies using a cross-over design require smaller sample sizes than studies with a pre-post or particularly parallel design. Conclusions: This study provides extensive information on long-term intra-subject variability of CDI measurements in non-glaucomatous controls as well as glaucoma patients. Moreover, sample size calculations are provided for studies involving glaucoma patients as well as non-glaucomatous individuals, using three different commonly used study designs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1531-1538
Number of pages8
JournalGraefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Volume247
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood flow
  • Color doppler imaging
  • Glaucoma
  • Reproducibility

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reproducibility of color Doppler imaging'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this