Abstract
Objective. To compare the asymmetry displayed by Philippine, Colombian, and Ethiopian unaffected parents of patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate (NSCLP) and a control population. Methods. Facial measurements were compared between unaffected parents of NSCLP patients and those in the control group for three populations from South America, Asia, and Africa by anthropometric and photographic measurements. Fluctuating and directional asymmetries, height and width proportions, were analyzed and compared. Results. Fluctuating asymmetries (ear length, middle line to Zigion perpendicular for left and right sides) and variations in the facial thirds demonstrated statistical significance in the study group of unaffected parents from Colombia and Philippines, while increased interorbital distance was evident in the unaffected Ethiopian parents of NSCLP patients. Conclusions. The facial differences in unaffected parents could indicate an underlying genetic liability. Identification of these differences has relevance in the understanding of the etiology of NSCLP.
Highlights
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is major structural birth defect that represents a serious public health problem
Comparison of measurements among the gender-matched parents of nonsyndromic cleft lip palate (NSCLP) patients and the control group showed no statistically significant difference in the three populations, this finding could be attributed to small sample for males in Colombia and Philippines and for females in Ethiopia
There was no significant difference between the type of cleft in NSCLP patients and the asymmetry in their parents
Summary
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is major structural birth defect that represents a serious public health problem. The nonsyndromic cleft lip palate (NSCLP) prevalence in Ethiopia is 1.49/1000 [1], in Philippines 1.94/1000 [2], and 1.59/1000 [3] in Colombia. This complex multifactorial disease is characterized by genetic heterogeneity, variable expression, and reduced penetrance. It has been suggested that phenotypic features play a role in the familial transmission patterns of orofacial clefts [5]. Several studies demonstrate that unaffected relatives within NSCLP families have different craniofacial features [6] suggesting that certain heritable aspects of facial form represent either a risk factor for clefts or a subclinical manifestation of this anomaly [7]. Some studies suggested that morphological variations and associated traits may represent cleft microforms or may result from more generalized development disturbances [4]
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