Some acute-phase proteins increase during exercise, and lipoprotein(a) has been considered an acute-phase protein on the basis of an increase in its serum level after acute cardiovascular episodes or surgery. We found no significant effect of acute physical exercise (600 kpm/min for 20 min) on lipoprotein(a) levels in ten healthy subjects [pre exercise 6.25 (0.1-14), median (range), mg/dl; at the end of exercise 6 (0.1-12) mg/dl; 30 min post exercise 5.9 (0.1-23) mg/dl; 60 min post exercise 5.95 (0.1-11) mg/dl]. This suggest that activation of the adrenergic system does not induce changes in lipoprotein(a) levels.