Is Post-ERCP Pancreatitis a Genetically Predisposed Complication?

Genetic susceptibility to post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis identified in propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

A previous history of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) is a risk factor for PEP, suggesting that there may be a genetic predisposition to PEP. However, nothing is known about this yet. The aim of this study was to identify genetic variations associated with PEP.

METHODS

A cohort of high-risk PEP patients was queried from December 2016 to January 2019. For each PEP case, two propensity score-matched controls were selected. Whole exome sequencing was performed using blood samples. Genetic variants reported to be related to pancreatitis were identified. To discover genetic variants that predispose to PEP, a logistic regression analysis with clinical adjustment was performed. Gene-wise analyses were also conducted.

RESULTS

Totals of 25 PEP patients and 50 matched controls were enrolled. Among the genetic variants reported to be associated with pancreatitis, only CASR rs1042636 was identified, and it showed no significant difference between the case and control groups. A total of 54,269 non-synonymous variants from 14,313 genes was identified. Logistic regression analysis of these variants showed that the IRF2BP1 rs60158447 GC genotype was significantly associated with the occurrence of PEP (odds ratio 2.248, FDR q value = 0.005). Gene-wise analyses did not show any significant results.

CONCLUSION

This study found that the IRF2BP1 gene variant was significantly associated with PEP. This genetic variant is a highly targeted PEP risk factor candidate and can be used for screening high-risk PEP groups before ERCP through future validation. (ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT02928718).

Risk Factors for Post-ERCP Pancreatitis in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients

OBJECTIVES

Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Limited existing data suggest that prophylactic pancreatic duct (PD) stenting in pediatric patients may increase the risk of PEP. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with PEP in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Patients at a single institution who underwent ERCP between 2012 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient and procedure-related factors were collected. Data were analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher exact tests as appropriate and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests.

RESULTS

Seven hundred thirty-six ERCPs were performed for 402 unique patients. Ninety-four cases were complicated by PEP (12.8%), of which 91 were mild and 3 were moderately severe. Pancreatic indication, native major papilla, PD cannulation and injection, and higher American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) complexity were associated with PEP. A higher proportion of patients who received rectal indomethacin (65% vs 47%, P = 0.002), or who had placement of a prophylactic (31% vs 20%, P = 0.01) or therapeutic PD stent (37% vs 27%, P = 0.04) developed PEP; however, in a subgroup analysis of high-risk patients, this association was not persistent. A smaller proportion of PEP patients had PRSS1 mutation compared to non-PEP patients (22% vs 40%, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

This study evaluates factors associated with developing PEP in a large pediatric cohort. A high rate of PEP was observed, likely secondary to higher rates of pancreatic indication and higher ASGE complexity scores compared to previously reported literature. Randomized prospective trials are needed to better define the utility of various interventions.

The Polymorphisms at PRSS1-PRSS2 and MORC4 Loci and the Risk of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

Background and Aim

The risks of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) are identified as patient- and procedure-related factors. However, the genetic contribution for PEP is still unclear. Recent data show that the polymorphisms of PRSS1-PRSS2 (rs10273639) and MORC4 (rs12688220) are associated with recurrent acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. We aim to evaluate the association between these polymorphisms and post-ERCP pancreatitis in order to improve better prognosis and better care for these patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective, case-control study which includes 49 cases and 97 controls that are age-, procedure-, and risk of PEP-matched with the cases in 1 : 2 fashion. The PEP was diagnosed and graded for severity according to the standard consensus, and the risk factors of PEP were identified according to the ESGE guideline. Polymorphisms at rs10273639 and rs12688220 were evaluated by TaqMan technique and were identified in 133 (40 cases and 93 controls) and 146 patients, respectively.

Results

The demographic data between 2 groups are not significantly different. The genotype frequencies of PRSS1-PRSS2 (TT, TC, and CC) are 26, 13, and 1 vs. 67, 25, and 1 in cases and controls, respectively (p = 0.642). The genotype frequencies of MORC4 in female (TT, TC, and CC) are 8, 23, and 5 vs. 12, 26, and 21 in cases and controls, respectively (p = 0.071). The genotype frequencies of MORC4 in male (T and C) are 5 and 8 vs. 21 and 17 in cases and controls, respectively (p = 0.468). The allelic frequencies of MORC4 in combination of both genders (T, C) are 44 and 41 vs. 71 and 84 in cases and control, respectively (p = 0.431). In PEP cases, the allelic frequencies of PRSS1-PRSS2 (T and C) are 59 and 13 vs. 6 and 2 in mild and moderate/severe cases, respectively (p = 0.633). The allelic frequencies of MORC4 (T and C) are 38 and 39 vs. 4 and 4 in mild and moderate/severe cases, respectively (p = 0.972).

Conclusion

Polymorphisms at PRSS1-PRSS2 and MORC4 are not associated with the risk or severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Genetic mutations in SPINK1, CFTR, CTRC genes in acute pancreatitis

Background

Explanation of the ultimate causes of acute and chronic pancreatitis is challenging. Hence, it is necessary to seek various etiological factors, including genetic mutations that may be of importance in triggering recurrence and progression of acute to chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of genetic mutations in patients with acute pancreatitis and to investigate their relationship with the etiology and clinical course.

Methods

The study included 221 patients treated for acute pancreatitis and 345 healthy subjects as a control group. Peripheral blood samples were collected from each study participant and genomic DNA was isolated. Genotyping of common mutations in the SPINK1 (p.N34S and p.P55S) and CTRC (p.I259V, p.V235I, p.K247_R254del, p.E225A) genes was performed using the high-resolution melting method. Mutations in the CFTR p.F508del (delF508_CTT) were genotyped using allele-specific amplification polymerase chain reaction. All detected mutations were confirmed with direct capillary DNA sequencing.

Results

Mutations in SPINK 1, CFTR and CTRC were detected in 6.3 %, 2.3 % and 1.8 % of patients with acute pancreatitis versus 3.2 %, 3.8 % and 1.2 % of volunteers in the control group. No relationship was found between the detected mutations and severity of acute pancreatitis: mild acute pancreatitis, mutation of CFTR in 4 (2.8 %) and CTRC in 2 (1.4 %) patients; severe acute pancreatitis, mutation of CFTR and CTRC in 1 (2.6 %) case each. The SPINK1 mutation was significantly more frequent in 8 (10.4 %) severe cases than in 6 (4.2 %) mild cases (P < 0.05), and was observed in 5/70 (7.1 %) patients with alcohol-related AP, 5/81 (6.2 %) with biliary AP, and 4/63 (6.3 %) in those without any established cause of the disease.

Conclusions

Mutation p.N34S in SPINK1 may predispose patients to acute pancreatitis, especially in those abusing alcohol, and may promote a more severe course of the disease.