Ethnicity, perceived discrimination, and vascular reactivity to phenylephrine

Objectives: This study examined relationships among ethnicity, perceived discrimination, and vascular reactivity to phenylephrine (PE). Methods: Seventy-six white patients and 46 black patients were studied at an inpatient clinical research center in response to a bolus intravenous injection of 100 mu g PE. Self-report questionnaires assessed perceived discrimination. Results: After controlling for body surface area, number of cigarettes smoked, and baseline blood pressure, black patients had greater vascular reactivity to PE than white patients (p = .01). There was also a significant relationship between perceived discrimination and diastolic blood pressure responsiveness to PE (p < .05). Path analyses revealed that perceived discrimination mediated the relationship between ethnicity and diastolic pressor responses. Individuals who perceived more discrimination had a larger increase in diastolic blood pressure in response to PE. Conclusion: These data suggest perceived discrimination is associated with increased blood pressure responsiveness to PE.