Cardiogenic shock elicits acute inflammation, delayed eosinophilia, and depletion of immune cells in most severe cases.

Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) display systemic inflammation and a high rate of infections, suggesting important immune disturbances. To explore the immune response to CS, we prospectively measured, in 24 consecutive CS patients, differential white blood cell (WBC) counts and the cytokines IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, IFNγ, MCP-1 and eotaxin (CCL11), at Day 1 (T1), day 3 (T2) and day 6-8 (T3). Secondary infections and their influence on cytokines and WBCs were determined.