The metabolites of 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa in the blood plasma of healthy humans have been identified as 3-O-sulfato-6[18F]fluoro-L-dopa, 3-O-methyl-6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa, 6-[18F] fluorodopamine, and 6-[18F]fluorohomovanillic acid. The time course of these metabolites was followed up to 2 hr. The findings have implications for the use of 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa as tracer for cerebral dopamine metabolism. Despite the variety of metabolites in the peripheral blood there are only two 18F-carrying

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... s, 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa and 3-O-methyl-6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa, that can cross the blood-brain barrier. After 1 hr, the plasma concentration of 3-O-methyl-6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa reaches approximately 20% that of 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa but the mean concentration of the O-methylated metabolite over the same interval is less than 5% that of 6-[18F]-fluoro-L-dopa.