Endothelial function was studied ultrasonographically in a healthy subset o
f African Americans (blacks) because they have an increased risk of hyperte
nsion and vascular disease. Twenty-four healthy black and 28 well-matched w
hite subjects were investigated. Ischemia was induced by inflating a cuff o
ver the forearm to 40 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure for 5 minutes. Br
achial artery diameter and blood flow velocity were measured at baseline an
d at 15, 45, and 60 seconds after deflation by use of an Acuson 128XP10 ult
rasonograph with a 7.5 MHz transducer, Mean postischemic dilatation, an ind
ex of endothelial function, was 1.76+/-0.56% in blacks and 8.79+/-1.22% in
whites (P<0.001). Median postischemic vasodilatation in black men [0% (0% t
o 2.86%)] was not significantly different to that in black women [0182% (0%
to 3.14%)], whereas white women [11.48% (8.70% to 14.29%)] dilated signifi
cantly more than white men [4.20% (2.13% to 5.56%)] (P<0.05). Both groups d
ilated significantly over baseline diameter to sublingual nitroglycerin adm
inistration 18.7+/-2.5% (blacks) and 20.2+/-3.2% (whites; P=NS), Mean hyper
emic responses did not differ significantly between the 2 subject groups, n
or did they differ between men and women of both ethnic groups. We;conclude
that endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is significantly impaired in hea
lthy, young blacks compared with-whites and that gender differences are not
seen in blacks with regard to this phenomenon. An impairment in endotheliu
m-dependent NO generation may be a contributing factor to future hypertensi
on and vascular disease in healthy blacks.