1Jorzik J., 1Flach U., 1Schütt F., 2Unnebrink K., 1Holz F. G.

1Universitäts-Augenklinik Heidelberg, INF 400, 2Koordinierungszentrum für Klinische Studien Heidelberg, INF 305, 69120 Heidelberg

Background: The criteria for selecting patients with neovascular ARMD include angiographic features of the choroidal neovascularizations (CNV). Here we quantified intra- and interobserver variation.
Methods: High quality fluorescein angiographies (204 digital images) from 40 patients with ARMD were presented to 16 retina specialists in two randomized sequences for analysis of type of CNV into classic, occult, or mixed classic with a classic component of greater or less than 50%. Kappa- (min 0; max 1) and intra-class-correlation-coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine intra- und inter-observer-variability.
Results: The mean kappa-coefficient was 0.64 ± 0.11 (min 0.44; max 0.89) for intraobserver variation, and 0.40 ± 0,05 (series A) and 0.37 ± 0,05 (series B) for interobserver variation. ICC was 0.66 (95% KI 0.56;0.77) for series A und 0.55 (95% KI 0.43;0.67) for series B.
Conclusions: Angiographic classification of CNV can vary considerably. Since various current and developing treatments including PDT are based on specific angiographic characteristics, accurate interpretation will become more important.
Supported by the research committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Heidelberg 169/2001

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