Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a condition in which a marked reduction in cardiac output and inadequate end-organ perfusion results from an array of cardiac insults, the most common of which is acute myocardial infarction. CS is a systemic disease involving a vicious cycle of inflammation, ischemia, and progressive myocardial dysfunction, which often results in death. This life-threatening emergency requires intensive monitoring accompanied by aggressive hemodynamic support; other therapies are tailored to the specific pathophysiology. The development of novel therapeutic strategies is urgently required to reduce the unacceptably high mortality rates currently associated with CS.