title: [Statins on sepsis: a new therapeutic gun in intensive care medicine?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sepsis is a syndrome with an important inflammatory component in its pathophysiology. Some drugs that act on the activation of inflammatory cascade have been tested in septic patients. Statins, beyond hypolipemic effects, have anti-inflammatory capacities, known as pleiotropic effects. That action may be of value on sepsis treatment. Review of publications who discuss the use of statins. This article has the objective to review the mainly papers about statins and sepses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original published articles were searched using Medline database crossing the keys words "sepsis and statins" between 1990 and 2006 RESULTS: Experimental and retrospective studies has been investigated the use of statins in septic patients, until this moment, most of then show benefits on morbidity and mortality. However, there is not prospective, randomized, placebo controlled trials. Or metanalyses, witch denotes lack strong and robust that could be indicated this action. So, since the benefit is still unable, it is necessary randomized clinical trials witch can prove this theory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several experimental and retrospective studies have investigated the use of statins in septic patients, but despite literature demonstrating a promising role for its use in these patients, these studies are experimental or retrospective. Therefore, we must wait larger, prospective, randomized trials before we may be able to understand its role and possibly recommend these drugs in the treatment of septic patients.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia.
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Fonteles
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ritt
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Pesquisa, Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia.
authors.forename: Helio Penna
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avezum
authors.affiliation: Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia.
authors.forename: Leopoldo Soares
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Piegas