The aetiology of pain in chronic pancreatitis remains to be elucidated. Therefore no common guidelines for the management of the pain exist and it is a topic of great discussion. The area is further complicated by the fact that only a few clinical trials have been carried out (Wilder-Smith et al. 1999). The best attempt to establish clear guidelines for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis is "American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: Treatment of Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis" (Warshaw et al. 1998). Initial treatment consists of low fat diet and non-narcotic analgesics, which can be supplemented by oral pancreatic enzymes and proton pump inhibitors. If an acceptable level of pain relief is not obtained with these drugs, only opioids remain for the management of pain. Opioids have a number of well-known adverse effects including elevation of smooth muscle tone (affecting gastrointestinal motility), toxicity in the central nervous system and especially induction of addiction. Many patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis have a history of alcoholic abuse making opioids, with their associated abuse potential, less suitable for these patients. Alternatives to medical treatment exist in the form of nerve blockade, lithotripsy and surgical treatment. However, results from studies of non-medical treatment modalities are equivocal and medical analgesic therapy must still be considered as the first choice in the management of painful chronic pancreatitis. Thus the importance of identifying potential new treatment regimes for the treatment of pain in chronic pancreatitis is clear.