Genetic Evaluation of Pancreatitis

Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2022 Jan;32(1):27-43. doi: 10.1016/j.giec.2021.08.006.

Abstract

Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare inherited chronic pancreatitis (CP) with strong genetic associations, with estimated prevalence ranging from 0.3 to 0.57 per 100,000 across Europe, North America, and East Asia. Apart from the most well-described genetic variants are PRSS1, SPINK1, and CFTR, many other genes, such as CTRC, CPA1, and CLDN2 and CEL have been found to associate with HP, typically in one of the 3 main mechanisms such as altered trypsin activity, pancreatic ductal cell secretion, and calcium channel regulation. The current mainstay of management for patients with HP comprises genetic testing for eligible individuals and families, alcohol and tobacco cessation avoidance, pain control, and judicious screening for complications, including exocrine and endocrine insufficiency and pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: CFTR; Familial pancreatitis; Genetics; Hereditary pancreatitis; PRSS1; Pancreatitis; SPINK1.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic* / epidemiology
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic* / genetics