Nilo D; University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
Gualdiero F; Russo V; Zielinska K; Sasso FC; Caturano A

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 86(6):502-504, 2025 Dec 01.

ABSTRACT: Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a key mechanism
driving impaired cardiac function and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness in
heart failure. Interleukin-1 blockade with anakinra has shown consistent
anti-inflammatory effects but inconclusive benefits on functional capacity
in prior trials. In a pooled analysis of 73 patients, Hogwood et al
reported that anakinra reduced hsCRP and modestly improved peak VO 2
across both younger (<60 years) and older (>=60 years) patients, with no
difference in magnitude of benefit between age groups. These findings
indicate that the functional response to IL-1 inhibition is preserved
across age groups. Although the results are limited by small sample size,
heterogeneous treatment duration, and lack of placebo control, they
highlight the importance of age-stratified research and provide a
rational