In addition to lowering serum lipids and decreasing cardiovascular risk, statins have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects.⁹ Subsequently, speculation has increased as to the beneficial effects of statins in managing sepsis.^10,11 

In animal studies, improvement in mortality has been demonstrated in sepsis models with administration of the statin simvastatin.^12,13 In humans with atherosclerotic disease, administration of a statin significantly reduced the risk of subsequent septic events, including severe and fatal sepsis, according to Hackam et al.¹⁴ A list of these and other pharmacologic effects of statins in individuals with sepsis, as indicated by the pertinent literature, is presented in Figure 1. 

Published studies on patients with infections—though limited in design, number, and scope—have suggested a net positive effect of prior or concomitant statin prescription. Almog et al¹⁵ reported on 361 consecutive patients admitted to a medical service with acute bacterial infection. Within this group, 82 patients (23%) were treated with a statin before admission.¹⁵ Severe sepsis occurred in 3% of statin-treated patients, compared with 19% of patients not receiving prior statin therapy.¹⁵ 

For patients with documented bacteremia, Liappis et al¹⁶ and Kruger et al¹⁷ found a notable decrease in mortality in patients taking statins before hospitalization, compared with patients not taking statins before hospitalization. It should be noted, however, that the number of critically ill patients in each report was small. Within the statin groups, only 6 patients in the Liappis et al¹⁶ report and 10 patients in the Kruger et al¹⁷ report required ICU admission. 

Fernandez et al¹⁸ reported on 438 patients who required ICU admission and mechanical ventilatory support. These patients were at high risk of ICU-acquired infections. Within this group, 38 patients (9%) received statin therapy before ICU admission and continued with this regimen throughout hospitalization.¹⁸ Statin-treated patients had 61% mortality versus 42% mortality for patients not receiving statins.¹⁸ 

In the only long-term study of patients with bacteremia who were receiving concomitant statin therapy, Thomsen et al¹⁹ found no short-term (0-30 d) advantage—but significantly improved long-term (30-180 d) survival—in patients using statins before, during, and after hospitalization, compared with patients not using statins (8.4% mortality in statin users vs 17.5% mortality in nonusers; adjusted mortality rate ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.80).¹⁹ The beneficial effects of statin therapy in this group may have been related to a decrease in cardiovascular events after inflammatory episodes. An association between acute infection and a transient increase in cardiovascular ischemic events was documented by Smeeth et al,²⁰ who reported that statins may exert a protective effect in patients with these conditions by decreasing inflammation and blood thrombogenic properties. 

Although in vitro studies do not always translate into beneficial in vivo effects,²¹ an extensive accumulation of data has resulted from in vitro studies as to possible physiologic mechanisms of statins' anti-inflammatory effects. This research has found that statins reduce the elevations of cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) after a lipopolysaccharide challenge.²² 

Statins also inhibit leukocyte function antigen-1 (LEA-1; also known as CD11a/CD18), which is involved in T-cell activation and leukocyte recirculation and migration to inflammatory sites.²³ Other research has shown that lipopolysaccharide inhibition of acetylcholine,²⁴ norepinephrine,²⁴ and phenylephrine¹³ is blocked in the presence of a statin, allowing these agents to result in vasoconstriction. Antioxidant properties of statins include the inhibition of superoxide production via the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase system in monocytes,²⁵ neutrophils,²⁶ and endothelial cells.²⁷ Statin administration has also been found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide, a potent endothelial cell–derived vasodilator that may cause vasopressor-resistant vasodilatation.²⁸ 

From the 1970s through the early 1990s, the prevailing concept of sepsis was one of a runaway inflammatory cascade that culminated in multiorgan failure and death.^29-32 Subsequent research endeavors focused on inflammatory targets. 

Several pharmacologic agents were developed based on this concept, but these agents have failed to demonstrate clear, beneficial clinical responses.^32-35 Among these anti-inflammatory agents are antiprostacyclins,³⁶ antiendotoxin antibodies,³⁷ bradykinin antagonists,³⁸ glucocorticoids,³⁹ interleukin receptor antagonists,⁴⁰ monoclonal antibodies to LEA-1 (CD11a/CD18),⁴¹ nitric oxide synthase inhibitors,⁴² platelet-activating factor antagonists,⁴³ soluble TNF receptors,⁴⁴ and TNF antagonists.^45,46 In addition, some of these agents have even been found to have detrimental effects in patients with sepsis.^34,44 

The inability to develop an anti-inflammatory agent with clear clinical benefit for patients with sepsis has led to the concept that sepsis is much more complex and variable than previously believed, making for a very elusive target. Natanson et al³⁵ wrote in 1994, “Perhaps our therapeutic premise has been flawed: Attempting to block the harmful effects of inflammatory mediators may not produce a net benefit [in patients with sepsis] because it may also compromise host defense and ultimately worsen outcome.” Natanson et al³⁵ suggested that there is variability in the host response to infection, such as an excessive inflammatory response, immunocompetence, or immunocompromise. The concept of a compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome was developed by Bone et al,^39,47 who suggested that an initial intense inflammatory reaction occurs in individuals with sepsis, followed by an immunosuppressed state or downregulation of the immune response. This decrease in immune response, if not recovered, may result in death.^39,47 The findings of Natanson et al,³⁵ Bone et al,^39,47 and others demonstrate the complex, variable nature of sepsis. Sometimes it is referred to as the “sepsis syndrome” (Figure 2). 

Several mechanisms of immunosuppression in sepsis have been investigated. Among the research findings related to these mechanisms are the following: 

Statins are effective at lowering lipid levels, but lipids are the wrong target in sepsis. Higher lipid levels are desirable in these patients. 

Lipid levels decrease markedly in patients with sepsis and critical illness, with lipoprotein concentrations falling to 50% of recovery values in most cases.^55,56 Concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are at a nadir at the time of diagnosis of severe sepsis, and concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol reach nadir by day 3 after diagnosis.⁵⁷ Low lipid levels associated with sepsis—or related to surgery or trauma—may be caused by increased use of the cholesterol substrate for new cell synthesis and repair, according to Engelberg.⁵⁸ Exogenous cholesterol is required for cell development and growth because intrinsic synthesis of cellular cholesterol cannot meet these needs.⁵⁸ Exogenous cholesterol is also required to maintain the fluidity and microviscosity of cell walls.⁵⁸ These cholesterol functions affect the linkage of membrane transport with receptor and enzymatic activities. 

Research has shown that hypocholesterolemia in critical illness and multisystem organ failure correlates with decreased patient survival rates.^56,59 Lipoproteins have been found to bind with and neutralize bacterial endotoxins.^60-62 The binding of lipopolysaccharides on the CD14 receptors of monocytes and macrophages results in the production and release of cytokines.^63,64 Competition for lipopolysaccharide binding between CD14 receptors and lipoproteins is dependent on lipoprotein availability, as noted by Netea et al.⁶⁵ As increasing levels of lipoproteins become available, lipopolysaccharide-lipoprotein interaction and neutralization predominate, resulting in an attenuated release of cytokines.⁶⁵ These data^60-65 suggest that serum lipoproteins bind lipopolysaccharides, neutralizing them in a concentration-dependent manner. 

These and other observations have led to investigations of the effects of lipid-infusion therapy in patients with sepsis.^66,67 Favorable results of lipid-infusion therapy have been noted in some animal studies.^66,67 Results from human studies on lipid-infusion therapy were not available at the time the present study was prepared. 

A review of the literature indicates that sepsis is a condition of dynamic response with great variability. Statins clearly possess anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties, but these effects may not remain relevant within the variable continuum of sepsis syndrome. Anti-inflammatory therapies may prove advantageous in cases of excessive inflammatory response, but such therapies may be counterproductive in situations where immunosuppression predominates. Serum lipids also provide essential cellular substrates in times of tremendous demand and dwindling reserves of cholesterol, which is reduced by statins. Furthermore, any process that neutralizes bacterial endotoxins would seem favorable. Thus, based on the available information, statin therapy seems advantageous in patients before the onset of sepsis and during sepsis resolution, but perhaps not when patients are critically ill. 

Ongoing research efforts to develop a means of identifying excessive and potentially detrimental fluctuations in the immune response—whether inflammatory or immune suppressive in nature—may direct statin therapy toward its most effective use. If an excessive inflammatory response is detected, anti-inflammatory agents, including statins, could prove advantageous at that point in the etiologic process. If a transition toward an immunosuppressive state is detected during continued patient monitoring, a change in pharmacologic therapy may be warranted, with deletion of the anti-inflammatory agents. 

Until the status of a patient's changing immune response can be clearly determined, an uninterrupted use of statin therapy throughout the spectrum of sepsis syndrome should be avoided. In summation, we have good pharmacologic “bullets” for sepsis. We just need to know when to “shoot” them.