Use of digoxin immune Fab (ovine) for the regulation of sodium/potassium ATPase activity in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients

Abstract

A method of regulating a preeclamptic/eclamptic patient's sodium/potassium ATPase activity includes the administration of digoxin immune Fab (ovine). It is theorized that an endogenous digitalis-like factor present in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients inhibits the functioning of sodium/potassium ATPase, resulting in elevated level of intracellular sodium and calcium levels. These elevated intracellular sodium and calcium levels lead to intravascular volume contraction and vasoconstriction. Digoxin immune Fab (ovine) binds with the endogenous digitalis-like factor to prevent it from interfering with the functioning of the sodium/potassium ATPase, thereby allowing the patient's intracellular sodium and calcium to return to a more normal level.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) for administration to a human patient exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia/eclampsia in order to reverse at least one preeclamptic/eclamptic symptom in the group including intravascular volume contraction, vasoconstriction and exaggerated myocardial function.  
     
     
         2 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered according to a formula of an endogenous digitalis-like factor level times the patient's body weight in kilograms divided by 100.  
     
     
         3 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the endogenous digitalis-like factor level is between approximately 3.0 and 5.0 ng/mL.  
     
     
         4 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the endogenous digitalis-like factor level is approximately 4.0 ng/mL.  
     
     
         5 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered via an intravenous bolus and wherein the administration of the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is repeated on a fixed schedule.  
     
     
         6 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the fixed schedule is approximately every five to eight hours.  
     
     
         7 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the fixed schedule is approximately every six hours.  
     
     
         8 . The use of digoxin immune Fab (ovine) for the regulation of sodium/potassium ATPase activity in a human patient exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia.  
     
     
         9 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered according to a formula of an endogenous digitalis-like factor level times the patient's body weight divided by 100.  
     
     
         10 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the endogenous digitalis-like factor level is between approximately 3.0 and 5.0 ng/mL.  
     
     
         11 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the endogenous digitalis-like factor level is approximately 4.0 ng/mL.  
     
     
         12 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered via an intravenous bolus and wherein the administration of the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is repeated on a fixed schedule.  
     
     
         13 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the fixed schedule is approximately every five to eight hours.  
     
     
         14 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the fixed schedule is approximately every six hours.  
     
     
         15 . The use of digoxin immune Fab (ovine) to prevent the binding of an endogenous digitalis-like factor with a receptor site in a human patient exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia/eclampsia.  
     
     
         16 . The use of digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the receptor site is sodium/potassium ATPase.  
     
     
         17 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered according to a formula of an endogenous digitalis-like factor level times the patient's body weight divided by 100.  
     
     
         18 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the endogenous digitalis-like factor level is between approximately 3.0 and 5.0 ng/mL.  
     
     
         19 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the endogenous digitalis-like factor level is approximately 4.0 ng/mL.  
     
     
         20 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered via an intravenous bolus and wherein the administration of the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is repeated on a fixed schedule.  
     
     
         21 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the fixed schedule is approximately every five to eight hours.  
     
     
         22 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the fixed schedule is approximately every six hours.  
     
     
         23 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) to control preeclampsia/eclampsia in a human patient.  
     
     
         24 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) for administration to a human patient exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia/eclampsia in order to improve the flow of blood between the patient and a fetus and placenta.  
     
     
         25 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) for administration to a human patient exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia/eclampsia to treat prevent growth restriction of a fetus.  
     
     
         26 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) for administration to a human patient to treat the symptoms of preeclampsia/eclampsia.  
     
     
         27 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered to alleviate the patient's hypertension.  
     
     
         28 . The use of a digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered to reduce the patient's proteinuria.  
     
     
         29 . The use of digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered to improve and stabilize the patient's urinary output.  
     
     
         30 . The use of digoxin immune Fab (ovine) as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the digoxin immune Fab (ovine) is administered to improve and stabilize the patient's neurologic functions.