Alpha-Difluoromethyl-DOPA
Alpha-Difluoromethyl-DOPA (α-DFMD), also known as alpha-difluoromethyl-DOPA or α-difluoromethyl-DOPA, is a fluorinated amino acid analogue and a radiopharmaceutical used in PET imaging. It is a fluorine-18-labelled tracer that is used to visualize and measure the activity of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the brain.
Chemistry[edit | edit source]
Alpha-Difluoromethyl-DOPA is a derivative of DOPA, an amino acid that is important in the synthesis of dopamine. The molecule is fluorinated, meaning it contains a fluorine atom, which allows it to be used as a tracer in PET imaging. The fluorine-18 isotope used in α-DFMD is a positron emitter, which means it emits a positron during radioactive decay. This positron can be detected by the PET scanner, allowing the distribution of α-DFMD in the body to be visualized.
Medical Use[edit | edit source]
Alpha-Difluoromethyl-DOPA is used in PET imaging to visualize and measure the activity of AADC in the brain. AADC is an enzyme that is involved in the synthesis of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the regulation of mood, reward, and movement. By visualizing the activity of AADC, doctors can gain insights into conditions that are associated with abnormal dopamine synthesis, such as Parkinson's disease and depression.
Safety and Side Effects[edit | edit source]
As a radiopharmaceutical, α-DFMD is associated with a small risk of radiation exposure. However, the amount of radiation is typically small and is considered safe for most patients. Side effects are rare, but may include allergic reactions in some individuals.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
