A Patient With Pancreas Divisum, Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis, and Homozygosity for the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator–Associated Protein 5T Allele

Mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) have been reported to increase the risk of recurrent acute pancreatitis in patients with pancreas divisum. We assessed the CFTR gene in a young male patient with pancreas divisum and recurrent acute pancreatitis. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and computed tomography revealed that the patient had pancreas divisum, with an enlarged and tortuous pancreatic duct; he also had positive results from the cystic fibrosis sweat test. Genetic analysis did not identify any common CFTR mutations, but did show that he was homozygous for the 5T allele in intron 8 IVS8 5T-12TG (which affects splicing at intron 8). Endoscopic sphincterotomy and stenting of papilla minor was performed. The IVS8 5T-12TG variant has been associated with abnormal organ development, therefore it is possible that CFTR has an important role in the development of the pancreatic duct. We propose this patient has recurrent acute pancreatitis resulting from a developmental defect associated with a suboptimal CFTR function.