Corticosteroids as antiangiogenic agents.

Corticosteroids have been traditionally used for treatment of inflammatory disorders, but recently their angiostatic properties have been explored in neovascular ocular diseases. New corticosteroid compounds designed specifically to target angiogenesis are being developed, along with novel delivery methods and therapeutic regimes. Corticosteroids are gaining widespread acceptance, particularly in the treatment of retinal diseases, and new advances are being made in understanding their mode of action, optimal administration, and safety. Recent basic and clinical findings about the effectiveness and mechanisms of angiostatic corticosteroids are reviewed in this article.