CYSTIC-FIBROSIS GENOTYPES AND ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS

Pancreatitis and pancreatic insufficiency are associated with both cys tic fibrosis and alcoholism. The pathogenesis of alcoholic pancreatiti s is unknown, but only a minority of alcoholics develop pancreatitis, and it has been suggested that a genetic predisposition may play a rol e in this disease. Two observations led to the hypothesis that this ge netic predisposition could result from mutations in the cystic fibrosi s gene. First, the prevalence of cystic fibrosis mutations in the Cauc asian population (approximately 5%) is similar to the prevalence of pa ncreatitis among heavy drinkers. Second, in both diseases, pancreatic duct damage is a prominent feature and has been postulated to be the i nitial site of injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determi ne whether an increased frequency of mutations in the cystic fibrosis gene occurs in alcoholic pancreatitis. The 15 most common cystic fibro sis mutations in a Caucasian community were sought in 24 subjects with alcoholic pancreatitis. None were homozygous or heterozygous for thes e mutations. These findings suggest that cystic fibrosis mutations are not a major genetic factor predisposing to pancreatic injury in alcoh olics.