Interleukin-1 Blockade Inhibits the Acute Inflammatory Response in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction is associated with an intense acute inflammatory response and risk of heart failure. We tested whether interleukin-1 blockade with anakinra significantly reduced the area under the curve for hsCRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) levels during the first 14 days in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (VCUART3 [Virginia Commonwealth University Anakinra Remodeling Trial 3]). Methods and Results We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial in 99 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction in which patients were assigned to 2 weeks treatment with anakinra once daily (N=33), anakinra twice daily (N=31), or placebo (N=35).