The most serious adverse effect of the IL-1 inhibitors appears to bean increased risk of infection.[7] The risk is surprisingly modest andis likely influenced by additional therapies the patient may be using,the dose used, as well as other underlying co-morbid disease.[15,35-37]Most notably, the presence of asthma is associated with a greaterrisk of pneumonia and anakinra should be used with caution inasthmatics.[15,35] Reversible neutropenia has also been described andmay contribute to the risk of infection.[7,38]. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and infection.