[Using of Cells Analyser software in the study of image of corneal specular microscope endothelial samples].
OBJECTIVE
To describe differences between number of cells, evaluated endothelial area and relative error comparing endothelial samples from one endothelial image with endothelial samples obtained by guidance of a specific software, with number of cells and images as many as necessary.


METHODS
A transversal study was performed, comparing the endothelial samples with and without intervention of the software. The sample consisted of 157 eyes. They were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of data of the first image and group 2 consisted of data from as many images as necessary for a complete examination guided by the Cells Analyser software (95% confidence interval and 0.05 relative error). The evaluated data were number of counted cells, equivalent evaluated field (mm2) and relative error. Student's t test with 99% confidence interval (p<0.01) was used.


RESULTS
The compared data showed statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in cell count (p=4x10-24), evaluated endothelial field (p=2x10-18) and relative error (p=1x10-21).


CONCLUSIONS
The study of the sample data with and [corrected] without intervention of the Cells Analyzer software showed them to be significantly different with greater samples and smaller sample errors, evidencing the importance of their use in order to obtain specular microscopic cornea tests with small errors (less than 5%), giving them representativeness and reproducibility [corrected]
Melo
Cinthia Mendonça de
CM
Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brasil. cinmelo@hotmail.com
Santos
Procópio Miguel Dos
PM
Santos
Regina Cândido Ribeiro Dos
RC
Abib
Fernando César
FC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D055815:Young Adult