Impact of Statins on Cytokine Expression in Pneumonia

Exclusion Criteria

• •Prior Treatment with one or more doses of a statin within 30-days prior to admission or during the current hospitalization.
• •Hospitalization \> 24 hours at time of the diagnosis of pneumonia.
• •Hospitalization \> 48 hours at time of study enrollment.
• •Residence in a skilled nursing facility.
• •Previously diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection with a current CD4 count \< 200 cells/mm.
• •Immunosuppression
• •Patient or family decision to limit medical care ("comfort measures only").
• •Known allergy to statin therapy.
• •Active or planned pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• •Inability to take oral medications at the time of study enrollment.
• •Pre-existing liver disease or AST/ALT \> 10% the upper limit of normal.
• •Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK or CK) \> 50% above the upper limit of normal.
• •Partial ileal bypass.
• •Concurrent treatment with potential interacting drugs: ketoconazole, itraconazole, amiodarone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, cyclosporine, danazol, niacin, protease inhibitors, telithromycin, verapamil, gemfiborzil, ezetimibe (Zetia), nefazodone.
• •Transfer from an outside hospital.