Colleen E McDermott

Dr. Colleen E McDermott

Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
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Colleen E McDermottColleen E McDermott
Colleen E McDermott
RSRebecca Salowe
Rebecca Salowe
IRIsabel Di Rosa
Isabel Di Rosa
Joan O'BrienJoan O'Brien
Joan O'Brien
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, and its pathophysiology includes neuroinflammatory changes. The present therapies for glaucoma target pressure-lowering mechanisms with limited success, making neuroinflammation a target for future interventions. This review summarizes the neuroinflammatory pathways seen in glaucoma and their interplay with stress. Glucocorticoids have been shown to activate proinflammatory glial cells, contributing to the neuroinflammation in glaucoma. Glucocorticoids have also been shown to increase the IOP directly. Stress-associated autonomic dysfunction can affect the vascular homeostasis in the retina and create oxidative stress. Diabetes, hyperglycemic-mediated endothelial damage, and vascular inflammation also play important roles in the neuroinflammation in glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Psychosocial stress has been implicated in an increased IOP and glaucoma outcomes. People who experience maladaptive chronic stress suffer from a condition known as allostatic load, which describes pathologic neuroendocrine dysregulation. The effects of allostatic load and chronic stress have been studied in patients affected by a lower socioeconomic status (SES) and marginalized racial identities. A lower SES is associated with higher rates of glaucoma and also affects the access to care and screening. Additionally, people of African ancestry are disproportionately affected by glaucoma for reasons that are multifactorial. In conclusion, this review explores neuroinflammation in glaucoma, highlighting opportunities for future investigation.

1 October 2018 in Surgery
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DMDominique J. Monlezun
Dominique J. Monlezun
MJMira John
Mira John
IDIsabelle Dortonne
Isabelle Dortonne
IGIndia Gaines
India Gaines
KCKatherine P. Carsky
Katherine P. Carsky
JBJoseph F. Buell
Joseph F. Buell