A West German family with hereditary pancreatitis is described. Four members are definitely known to have had pancreatitis, while three additional members are suspected of having the disease. The mean age of onset of symptoms was 14 years. Known causes of secondary pancreatitis and amino aciduria were ruled out in each case. HLA-segregation was analysed on the A, B, C, and DR loci in all members of the family, but no coupling between distribution of HLA haplotypes and incidence of pancreatitis was detected.