Early trials of angiogenic factors have not targeted patients most at risk of ocular disease

EDITOR—In his clinical review on therapeutic angiogenesis Henry discusses the potential benefits of this treatment in relation to myocardial and limb ischaemia.1 Vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and the angiopoietin receptors have already been evaluated in disease models and small clinical trials and shown to be beneficial. The use of these agents highlights a paradox of subspecialty medicine.

Henry briefly mentions the danger of pathological angiogenesis in other tissues, and this is of particular relevance …