SPINK1 and chronic pancreatitis: In the last decade, several authors identified associations of chronic pancreatitis (idiopathic and hereditary) to other genes, such as the anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2), the Serine Protease Inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) [13-16].