We plan to conduct a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial, with a cross over design, to study the effects of atorvastatin in 22 HIV-infected patients not currently taking antiretroviral therapy. Patients will be randomized to receive either placebo or atorvastatin 80mg for 8 weeks. After a 4-week wash out period patients on the atorvastatin arm will crossover to placebo and, vice versa patients in the placebo arm will cross over to atorvastatin for an additional 8 weeks. Upon completion of study medications all patients will be followed for 4 weeks. Each arm will have a minimum of 11 patients each. The primary outcome measure in this study is the effect of lipid lowering agents on HIV-1 RNA levels; additional secondary outcome measures include effects of lipid lowering agents on lipid profile, markers of inflammation and immune activation and investigations of host and viral genetic factors.