Summary We studied the plasma lipidic status of community-acquired pneumonia during its acute phase in 49 patients. Plasma levels of cholesterol, α-lipoprotein and apoprotein A1 were significantly increased in comparison with normal plasma levels. Triglycerid and pre-β-lipoprotein plasma levels were significantly lower than normal plasma levels. There was no correlation between gravity of the pneumonia, scored by Fine pronostic index, and changes of the plasma lipidic status. These changes are probably caused by secretion of cytokines which inhibit lipolytic enzymes - lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase. However, plasma lipidic status must be interpreted one month after pneumonia.