AimTo investigate the relationship between blood pressure load, blood pressure variability and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) in prehypertensives.Methods100 normotensives and 105 prehypertensives were recruited, while 110 hypertensives were enrolled.24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was carried out in the three groups, blood pressure load and variability was computed and TNF-a was measured respectively.ResultsTNF-a, blood pressure load during 24 h, daytime and nighttime in prehypertensives were higher than that in normotensives while lower than that in hypertensives (p<0.01).Blood pressure variability during 24 h, daytime and nighttime in prehypertensives were higher than that in normotensives (p<0.05).The systolic blood pressure variability during 24 h and daytime and the diastolic blood pressure variability during 24 h and night in prehypertensives were lower than that in hypertensives (p<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear stepwise regression showed that the level of TNF-α was positively correlated with the systolic blood pressure load during 24 h and daytime, the diastolic blood pressure load during 24 h and nighttime, the systolic blood pressure variability during 24 h and nighttime (p<0.05).The systolic blood pressure load during 24 h and nighttime as well as systolic blood pressure variability during 24 h and nighttime were risk factors for TNF-a (p<0.01).ConclusionsBlood pressure load and blood pressure variability was correlated with TNF-a.Inflammation was relevant to the level of blood pressure in prehypertensives.