CFTR polymorphisms in patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Pancreas susceptibility to alcohol is variable and only 5-10% of chronic alcohol abusers develop chronic pancreatitis; the role of genetic factors in this process is unknown. The CFTR gene encodes a protein that acts on epithelial cells and plays a key role in normal exocrine pancreatic function.


METHODS
This study investigated the frequency of polymorphisms in intron 8 of the CFTR gene in patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Three groups of patients were studied: group A - 68 adult alcoholics with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis; group B - 68 adult alcoholics without pancreatic disease or liver cirrhosis and group C - 104 healthy nonalcoholic adults.


RESULTS
T5/T7 genotype was more frequent in group A (11.8%) than in group B (2.9%) (p = 0.0481), and there was no statistical difference when groups A and C (5.8%) were compared (p = 0.1317). The haplotype combination (TG)10-T7/(TG)11-T7 was more frequent in groups B (23.5%) and C (20.2%) than in group A (7.3%) (p = 0.0080 and 0.0162).


CONCLUSIONS
There are differences when these three groups are compared and individuals with T5/T7 genotype might have a greater risk of developing chronic pancreatitis when they become chronic alcoholics.
da Costa
Marianges Zadrozny Gouvêa
MZ
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. marianges@hotmail.com
Guarita
Dulce Reis
DR
Ono-Nita
Suzane Kioko
SK
Nogueira
Jerônimo de Alencar
Jde A
Nita
Marcelo Eidi
ME
Paranaguá-Vezozzo
Denise Cerqueira
DC
de Souza
Marcelo Tavares
MT
do Carmo
Eliane Pereira
EP
Teixeira
Ana Cristina de Sá
AC
Carrilho
Flair José
FJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism*; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator