Inclusion Criteria:  Cardiogenic shock of any cause and indication for VA-ECMO Age between 18 and 80 Signed informed consent  Exclusion Criteria:  Current participation in another interventional trial Pregnancy Current immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapy Contraindications to VA-ECMO implantation. Patients with pre - existing sepsis (raised CPR, positive PCT, leukozytosis, fever, positive blood cultures). Shock duration> 12 h before evaluation. Severe PVD (peripheral vessel disease) making ECMO-implantation impossible. Aortic valve insufficiency / stenosis at least II °. Age > 80 years. CNS disease with fixed, dilated pupils (not drug-induced). Severe concomitant disease with limited life expectancy <6 months. CPR> 60min. Shock due to other reasons HIT positive (Heparin induced thrombocytopenia) Very low platelet counts (< 20,000/µl) Body weight less than 45 kg