The initial ischemic damage to the myocardium initiates an intense inflammatory response in promoting further cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is the prototypical inflammatory cytokine involved in the tissue response to injury. In the experimental model of large anterior wall AMI in the mouse, IL-1 blockade using anakinra, a recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist ameliorates cardiac remodeling and improves survival following AMI. Although the mouse AMI model is helpful in understanding the events leading to adverse post-infarction cardiac remodeling and heart failure, the exact role of IL-1 in patients with AMI has not been completely characterized. The investigators propose to address this question by studying patients presenting with ST-segment elevation AMI (STEMI). Such patients are at high risk for in-hospital and long-term mortality and display several markers of inflammation. The investigators hypothesize that IL-1 blockade in patients STEMI with will limit the acute inflammatory response and prevent adverse cardiac remodeling, heart failure, and related morbidity.