This systematic review and meta‐analysis of genetic association studies in AP found two genetic variants in SPINK1 and ALDH2 genes that showed moderate or strong credible associations with disease risk in the allelic contrasts model, and three credible associations using dominant and recessive models in IL1B, IL6 and IL18. However, except for the SPINK1 variants, credible associations were found only with pooled analysis of Asian populations. Here, IL6 is linked to alkaline phosphatase measurement.