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The BElfast Retinal Tear and detachment Score (BERT Score) in vitreous haemorrhage

Eye volume 38, pages 202–204 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To establish if the BElfast Retinal Tear and detachment Score (BERT Score) can be used in triaging patients presenting with vitreous haemorrhage to allow safe differentiation between those with retinal tears and detachments, versus haemorrhagic posterior vitreous detachments.

Methods

Retrospective audit of 122 patients presenting to eye casualty with vitreous haemorrhage excluding trauma and vascular causes. Twenty-two patients were excluded from the study as they had no follow-up. The BERT Score was applied to the remaining 100 patients.

Results

Vitreous haemorrhages with a BERT score ≥4 points were more likely to have a retinal tear or detachment (P = 0.0056). The sensitivity was 84.6% (confidence interval (CI) 65.0–100.0%), specificity 34.5% (CI 24.5–44.5%), positive predictive value 16.2% (CI 7.4–24.9%) and negative predictive value 94% (CI 85.4–100.0%).

Conclusions

The BERT is a reliable scoring system to risk stratify patients with vitreous haemorrhage. Its high sensitivity and negative predictive value can help clinicians to detect high-risk patients.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK

    Mohamad Baba

  2. Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK

    Richard Best

Authors
  1. Mohamad Baba
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  2. Richard Best
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Contributions

MB has collected, analysed the data and written the paper. RB has supervised the research project.

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Correspondence to Mohamad Baba.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Baba, M., Best, R. The BElfast Retinal Tear and detachment Score (BERT Score) in vitreous haemorrhage. Eye 38, 202–204 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02660-3

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