Whole blood samples taken from patients after cardiac arrest had markedly impaired synthesis of IL-1β in response to stimulation with the TLR4 agonist LPS (CAD 327.0 ± 291.3; CPR t1 31.3 ± 49.7; CPR t2 28.0 ± 35.6; CPR t3 33.5 ± 60.6 ((pg/ml)/white blood cell (WBC) count)). The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is cardiac arrest.