Fluorometric determination of methyldopa in biological fluids

A fluorometric method for the analysis of methyldopa, based on the formation of a fluorophore after oxidation and rearrangement, is described. The drug is isolated from biological fluids by adsorption on alumina and elution with an organic solvent. Fluoresence is linear from 0.1 to 1.5 microgram of methyldopa/ml. The assay has a lower limit of sensitivity of 100 ng/ml and is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies following therapeutic doses in animals and humans.