Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) initiates an intense inflammatory response in which interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a central role. The IL-1 receptor antagonist is a naturally occurring antagonist, and anakinra is the recombinant form used to treat inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present pilot study was to test the safety and effects of IL-1 blockade with anakinra on left ventricular (LV) remodeling after AMI. Ten patients with ST-segment elevation AMI were randomized to either anakinra 100 mg/day subcutaneously for 14 days or placebo in a doubleblind fashion. Two cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and echocardiographic studies were performed during a 10-to 14-week period. The primary end point was the difference in the interval change in the LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) between the 2 groups on CMR imaging. The secondary end points included differences in the interval changes in the LV enddiastolic volume index, and C-reactive protein levels. A +2.0 ml/m 2 median increase (interquartile range +1.0, +11.5) in the LVESVi on CMR imaging was seen in the placebo group and a -3.2 ml/ m 2 median decrease (interquartile range -4.5, -1.6) was seen in the anakinra group (p = 0.033). The median difference was 5.2 ml/m 2 . On echocardiography, the median difference in the LVESVi change was 13.4 ml/m 2 (p = 0.006). Similar differences were observed in the LV enddiastolic volume index on CMR imaging (7.6 ml/m 2 , p = 0.033) and echocardiography (9.4 ml/m 2 , p = 0.008). The change in C-reactive protein levels between admission and 72 hours after admission correlated with the change in the LVESVi (R =+0.71, p = 0.022). In conclusion, in the present pilot study of patients with ST-segment elevation AMI, IL-1 blockade with anakinra was safe and favorably affected by LV remodeling. If confirmed in larger trials, IL-1 blockade might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent heart failure after AMI.Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) initiates an intense inflammatory response characterized by an accumulation of leukocytes in the injured myocardium and the production of cytokines and chemokines, which further promotes adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure. [1][2][3] Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is the prototypic inflammatory cytokine, inducing adhesion NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript molecules and chemokines. 4 IL-1 is also a known myocardial suppressant. [4][5] In AMI, IL-1 is initially released by the ischemic endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes and, later, by the leukocytes infiltrating the myocardium. 6 Although IL-1 leads to leukocyte recruitment, which contributes to infarct healing, IL-1 also promotes cell death in cardiomyocytes. 6,7 The naturally occurring IL-1 receptor antagonist binds to the IL-1 receptor and prevents IL-1 activity. 4 We have reported that a recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist, anakinra, ameliorated cardiac remodeling after a large anterior wall AMI in the experimental mouse model and improved survival. 7 Moreover, mice with...

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) initiates an intense inflammatory response in which interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a central role. The IL-1 receptor antagonist is a naturally occurring antagonist, and anakinra is the recombinant form used to treat inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present pilot study was to test the safety and effects of IL-1 blockade with anakinra on left ventricular (LV) remodeling after AMI. Ten patients with ST-segment elevation AMI were randomized to either anakinra 100 mg/day subcutaneously for 14 days or placebo in a double-blind fashion. Two cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and echocardiographic studies were performed during a 10- to 14-week period. The primary end point was the difference in the interval change in the LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) between the 2 groups on CMR imaging. The secondary end points included differences in the interval changes in the LV end-diastolic volume index, and C-reactive protein levels. A +2.0 ml/m2 median increase (interquartile range +1.0, +11.5) in the LVESVi on CMR imaging was seen in the placebo group and a –3.2 ml/m2 median decrease (interquartile range –4.5, –1.6) was seen in the anakinra group (p = 0.033). The median difference was 5.2 ml/m2. On echocardiography, the median difference in the LVESVi change was 13.4 ml/m2 (p = 0.006). Similar differences were observed in the LV end-diastolic volume index on CMR imaging (7.6 ml/m2, p = 0.033) and echocardiography (9.4 ml/m2, p = 0.008). The change in C-reactive protein levels between admission and 72 hours after admission correlated with the change in the LVESVi (R =+0.71, p = 0.022). In conclusion, in the present pilot study of patients with ST-segment elevation AMI, IL-1 blockade with anakinra was safe and favorably affected by LV remodeling. If confirmed in larger trials, IL-1 blockade might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent heart failure after AMI.

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). hsCRP area under the curve was significantly lower in patients receiving anakinra versus placebo (median, 67 [interquartile range, 39–120] versus 214 [interquartile range, 131–394] mg·day/L; P <0.001), without significant differences between the anakinra arms. No significant differences were found between anakinra and placebo groups in the interval changes in left ventricular end‐systolic volume (median, 1.4 [interquartile range, −9.8 to 9.8] versus −3.9 [interquartile range, −15.4 to 1.4] mL; P =0.21) or left ventricular ejection fraction (median, 3.9% [interquartile range, −1.6% to 10.2%] versus 2.7% [interquartile range, −1.8% to 9.3%]; P =0.61) at 12 months. The incidence of death or new‐onset heart failure or of death and hospitalization for heart failure was significantly lower with anakinra versus placebo (9.4% versus 25.7% [ P =0.046] and 0% versus 11.4% [ P =0.011], respectively), without difference between the anakinra arms. The incidence of serious infection was not different between anakinra and placebo groups (14% versus 14%; P =0.98). Injection site reactions occurred more frequently in patients receiving anakinra (22%) versus placebo (3%; P =0.016). Conclusions In patients presenting with ST ‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction, interleukin‐1 blockade with anakinra significantly reduces the systemic inflammatory response compared with placebo. Clinical Trial Registration URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ . Unique identifier: NCT 01950299.

No abstract