Abstract: A method of treating preeclampsia including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufagenin to a patient having preeclampsia. Effecting the determination of the presence of preeclampsia may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that preeclampsia does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufagenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufagenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of preeclampsia.

Abstract: A method of preventing preeclampsia including administering to a patient during an early stage of pregnancy a prophylactically-effective amount of resibufogenin. The administration of resibufogenin is periodically repeated. The method serves to prevent hypertension, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for determination of marinobufagenin concentration in a body specimen through conjugation of marinobufagenin to a suitable protein, thereby creating a conjugate which will trigger an antibody response in a host. The conjugated marinobufagenin is immunogenic. The antibodies so produced may be employed in an ELISA test to ascertain the concentration of marinobufagenin in a body specimen. A number of unique compounds are created in the process and are disclosed. An ELISA assay may be employed.

Abstract: A method of treating volume expansion mediated hypertension including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufogenin to a patient having volume expansion mediated hypertension. A method for the determination of the presence of volume expansion mediated hypertension may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that volume expansion mediated hypertension does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen in determining whether a patient has volume expansion mediated hypertension. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufogenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufogenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of volume expansion mediated hypertension.