Background Plasma levels of cardiotonic steroids (CTS) are elevated in volume-expanded states such as chronic kidney disease, but the role of these natriuretic hormones in subjects with heart failure (HF) is unclear. We sought to determine the prognostic role of the CTS marinobufagenin (MBG) in HF, particularly in relation to long-term outcomes. Methods and Results We first measured plasma MBG levels and performed comprehensive clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic assessment in 245 HF patients. All-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and HF hospitalization were tracked for 5 years. In our study cohort, median [interquartile range] MBG was 583 [383-812] pM. Higher MBG was associated with higher myeloperoxidase (MPO, r=0.42, p<0.0001), BNP (r=0.25, p=0.001), and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, r=0.32, p<0.001). Elevated levels of MBG were associated with measures of worse right ventricular function (RV s’: r= −0.39, p<0.0001) and predicted increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes (MBG ≥574 pM: HR 1.58 [1.10-2.31], p=0.014) even after adjustment for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic etiology. In mice, a left anterior descending coronary artery ligation model of heart failure lead to increases in MBG, while infusion of MBG into mice for 4 weeks lead to significant increases in MPO, ADMA, and cardiac fibrosis. Conclusions In the setting of heart failure, elevated plasma levels of MBG are associated with right ventricular dysfunction and predict worse long-term clinical outcomes in multivariable models adjusting for established clinical and biochemical risk factors. Infusion of MBG appears to directly contribute to increased nitrative stress and cardiac fibrosis.