Clinical Chemistry, Vol 22, 782-784, Copyright © 1976 by American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Liquid chromatographic method for monitoring therapeutic concentrations of L-dopa and dopamine in serum

RM Riggin, RL Alcorn and PT Kissinger

We describe a new method for the simultaneous assay of 3,4- dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) and dopamine in serum. Both compounds have been determined quantitatively at concentrations as low as 10 mug/liter with a coefficient of variation of less than 4%. Peak heights were linearly related to concentration up to 10 mg/liter for each compound. Assay of human sera gave within-run and day-to-day coefficients of variation of 2.8% and 3.1% for L-dopa, and 2.9% and 3.7% for dopamine. The linear relationship between readings nA, y-axis) and concentration (mug/liter) is described by the following equations: y = (21.0 +/- 0.082)x + (0.46 +/- 0.31 SD) for L-dopa and y = (17.0 +/- 0.10)x + (0.08 +/- 0.04 SD) for dopamine. The procedure combines liquid/solid extraction, liquid chromatography, and controlled- potential electrochemistry. The simplicity, sensitivity, and accuracy of this method make it suitable for routine clinical analysis of serum samples to optimize bioavailability for individual patients. After the extraction procedure is completed, samples can be analyzed at the rate of 10/h.