Although the ability of anakinra or other IL-1β blocking drugs to prevent progression of atherosclerosis in humans has not been specifically studied, IL-1 inhibition with anakinra and canakinumab proved beneficial in the treatment of major clinical complications of atherosclerosis, such as acute myocardial infarction and ischemic cardiovascular disease, as detailed in the following sections of this review. The gene discussed is IL1A; the disease is acute myocardial infarction.