Transverse craniofacial features and their genetic predisposition in families with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transverse craniofacial form in families with nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP). It was hypothesized that affected as well as noncleft NSCLP family members are characterized by a common array of craniofacial features that differ from the general population.


METHODS
This was a prospective cross-sectional investigation that included affected children with NSCLP and their noncleft parents and siblings.


METHODS
A total of 114 subjects (14 affected girls, 17 affected girls, 15 unaffected male siblings, 10 unaffected female siblings, 29 unaffected biological mothers, and 29 unaffected biological fathers) were included. Subject records comprised of posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs obtained from all 114 subjects.


METHODS
The width of midfacial structures, including the orbit and nose, was increased in NSCLP families, compared with published norms. Interestingly, the face was disproportionally wider in relation to total facial height. The transverse craniofacial form of children with or without clefts significantly correlated with that of their parents. Mothers displayed strong correlation with their affected and unaffected sons, whereas fathers correlated to their daughters, suggesting a possible sex-linked developmental influence.


CONCLUSIONS
Better understanding of the genetic inheritance of craniofacial features associated with cleft lip and palate may ultimately contribute to the development of cleft risk assessment methods.
Yoon
Young-Jooh
YJ
Eastman Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14620, USA.
Perkiomaki
Marja R
MR
Tallents
Ross H
RH
Barillas
Ingrid
I
Herrera-Guido
Roberto
R
Fong
Chin-To
CT
Kyrkanides
Stephanos
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D003364:Costa Rica; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000235:genetics*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents; D011446:Prospective Studies; D035781:Siblings; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric