Cardiogenic shock is a state of inadequate tissue perfusion owing to cardiac dysfunction. The leading cause of cardiogenic shock is acute myocardial infarction.<sup>1AIMS Trial Study Group Effect of intravenous APSAC on mortality after acute myocardial infarction: Preliminary report of a placebo-controlled clinical trial Lancet 1988 ;  1 : 545-549

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Despite advances in management of heart failure and acute myocardial infarction, the mortality of patients with cardiogenic shock has remained high, with reported mortality rates ranging from 50% to 80%.<sup>23Goldberg R.J., Gore J.M., Alpert J.S., e al. Cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction: Incidence and mortality from a community-wide perspective, 1975 to 1988 N Engl J Med 1991 ;  325 : 1117-1122 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 33Hochman J.S., Boland J., Sleeper L.A., e al. Current spectrum of cardiogenic shock and effect of early revascularization on mortality: Results of an International Registry Circulation 1995 ;  91 : 873-881

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Recent data suggest an increase in survival in the 1990s, concident with the use of reperfusion strategies.<sup>24Goldberg R.J., Samad N.A., Yarzebski J., e al. Temporal trends in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction N Engl J Med 1999 ;  340 : 1162-1168 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Cardiogenic shock, however, remains the most common cause of death in hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction.