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Editor,—In a recent issue (Gut1999;45: 317–322), David Whitcomb reviewed the current knowledge on molecular genetics and pathogenetic concepts in hereditary pancreatitis. We were delighted by this review from an expert who has recently published landmark papers in which the most frequent mutations of the cationic trypsinogen in hereditary pancreatitis were described.
However, there is considerable confusion concerning the nomenclature of the identified mutations, as in the literature two different systems were used in parallel: the chymotrypsin system and the trypsinogen system. The two frequent mutations R117H and N21I were reported in the chymotrypsin nomen- clature1 2 whereas for the other mutations (A16V, K23R) the trypsinogen system was used.3 4 By mistake, the N21I mutation could be assumed to be located two amino acids proximal to K23R but is in fact six amino acids distal. Remarkably, in the paper of Gorry and colleagues2 the N21I mutation was reported in the chymotrypsin nomenclature whereas for …