The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1b (IL-1b) hasbeen demonstrated to play an important role in atherosclerosis. Itslevel is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Weaim to study its relation to ischemic stroke and whether its gene -511 polymorphism is related to IL-1b level. Significantly higherIL-1b level is found in stroke patients than in controls. Noassociation was found between IL-1b gene to -511 polymorphismand serum level of IL-1b or ischemic stroke.