The overall goal of this proposal is to study genetic predisposition to CKD, and CVD risk in CKD through inflammatory pathways, and the effect that a potent anti-inflammatory intervention like interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), will have in inflame patients with CKD stages 3&4. Specific Aims: 1) To determine if specific polymorphism/haplotypes, genotype combinations and gene-environmental interactions that can affect inflammation, available from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (DNA data set), specifically in the CRP,IL-1, IL-10 and TNF- genes, are associated with CKD. 2) To determine if the specific polymorphisms and haplotypes studied in Aim 1 are associated with faster CKD progression and CV outcomes in a longitudinal cohort from the African American Study of Kidney Disease. 3)To determine if a targeted anti-inflammatory intervention, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, will modulate systemic inflammation, endothelial function, oxidative stress and urinary cytokines, the proposed surrogate markers of CVD and CKD progression in inflame patients with CKD stages 3&4.