The intervention chosen for this trial is either (1) placebo for patients not taking a statin at the time of admission OR lovastatin 80 mg in place of their regular statin for patients taking a statin (atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin) at time of enrolment VERSUS (2) oral lovastatin at dosage of 640 mg daily for 3 days. The time of first dose will be considered time 0. Patients will be administered the total daily dose in four daily divided doses (i.e., QID schedule). After the initial 3 days of acute dosage, all patients will receive statin therapy at the discretion of their treating physician.