This study reports that an improvement in systolic blood pressure of > 10 mm Hg after PTCA in patients with cardiogenic shock was associated with in-hospital survival (8 of 8 patients). Failure to achieve infarct artery patency (6 of 6) or technically successful PTCA, unaccompanied by improved systolic blood pressure in the catheterization laboratory, was associated with in-hospital mortality in this series.