title: The N34S mutation of the SPINK1 gene and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have shown the key role of genetic factors in the development of chronic pancreatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to establish whether the frequency of the N34S mutation of serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) gene differs between patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, patients with nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis, alcoholics without any digestive organ damage, and controls. We also sought to investigate whether the frequency of this mutation differs between women and men, and whether the mutation is associated with the age of patients at first diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 207 patients: 67 with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, 35 with nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis, 43 alcoholics with no damage to digestive organs, and 62 healthy volunteers who served as controls. The N34S mutation of the SPINK1 gene was detected with the polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The N34S mutation of the SPINK1 gene occurred in 15 of 207 patients (7.25%). The mutation was most frequent in patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (10 patients, 16.39%) and was more frequent compared with the control group (2 patients, 3.23%) (P = 0.047). There were no statistically significant differences between the other groups: patients with nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis (2 patients, 5.71%), alcoholics without digestive organ damage (1 patient, 2.33%), and controls. The mutation was more frequent in men than in women (P = 0.043). There were no differences between patients with and without the mutation in terms of the age at first diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (P >0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The N34S mutation of the SPINK1 gene seems to be significantly correlated with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. lach.halina@wp.pl
authors: Halina
authors: H
authors: Cichoż-Lach
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Michalak
authors: Emilia
authors: E
authors: Lis
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Wojcierowski
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Kowalik
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Słomka
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Korolczuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic