['Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] consists of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) as part of an LDL-like particle and the covalently linked glycoprotein apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)]. Detailed mechanisms of its biosynthesis, assembly, secretion and catabolism are still poorly understood. To address the Lp(a) assembly mechanism, we studied the in vivo kinetics of apo(a) and apoB-100 from Lp(a) and LDL apoB-100 in nine healthy probands using stable-isotope methodology.', 'The level of isotope enrichment was used to calculate the fractional synthesis rate (FSR), production rate (PR) and retention time (RT) using SAAMII software and multicompartmental modeling.', 'We observed a similar mean PR for apo(a) (1.15 nmol/kg/d) and apoB-100 (1.31 nmol/kg/d) from Lp(a), which differed significantly from the PR for apoB-100 from LDL (32.6 nmol/kg/d). Accordingly, mean FSR and RT values for Lp(a)-apo(a) were similar to those of Lp(a)-apoB and different from those for LDL-apoB.'] Does in vivo stable-isotope kinetic study suggest intracellular assembly of lipoprotein ( a )?