Hereditary chronic pancreatitis.
Hereditary chronic pancreatitis (HCP) is a very rare form of early onset chronic pancreatitis. With the exception of the young age at diagnosis and a slower progression, the clinical course, morphological features and laboratory findings of HCP do not differ from those of patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. As well, diagnostic criteria and treatment of HCP resemble that of chronic pancreatitis of other causes. The clinical presentation is highly variable and includes chronic abdominal pain, impairment of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function, nausea and vomiting, maldigestion, diabetes, pseudocysts, bile duct and duodenal obstruction, and rarely pancreatic cancer. Fortunately, most patients have a mild disease. Mutations in the PRSS1 gene, encoding cationic trypsinogen, play a causative role in chronic pancreatitis. It has been shown that the PRSS1 mutations increase autocatalytic conversion of trypsinogen to active trypsin, and thus probably cause premature, intrapancreatic trypsinogen activation disturbing the intrapancreatic balance of proteases and their inhibitors. Other genes, such as the anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2), the serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) have been found to be associated with chronic pancreatitis (idiopathic and hereditary) as well. Genetic testing should only be performed in carefully selected patients by direct DNA sequencing and antenatal diagnosis should not be encouraged. Treatment focuses on enzyme and nutritional supplementation, pain management, pancreatic diabetes, and local organ complications, such as pseudocysts, bile duct or duodenal obstruction. The disease course and prognosis of patients with HCP is unpredictable. Pancreatic cancer risk is elevated. Therefore, HCP patients should strongly avoid environmental risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Rosendahl
Jonas
J
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universität Leipzig, Germany. jonas.rosendahl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Bödeker
Hans
H
Mössner
Joachim
J
Teich
Niels
N
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors; D014357:Trypsin / Q000235:genetics; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic; D014362:Trypsinogen / Q000235:genetics
C505032:CFTR protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C486642:SPINK1 protein, human; C064831:PRSS2 protein, human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic; D014362:Trypsinogen; D014357:Trypsin