Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
First-trimester nonsystemic corticosteroid use and the risk of oral clefts in Norway
Hildur Skuladottir1, Allen Wilcox2, Robert McConnaughey3
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Purpose:
Exposure of pregnant mice to corticosteroids can produce oral clefts in offspring. Although data in humans are more mixed, recent reports have suggested that dermatologic steroids are associated with oral clefts.
Methods:
We investigated maternal first-trimester exposure to corticosteroids (focusing on dermatologic uses) and oral clefts in offspring using two population-based studies. The Norway Cleft Study (1996-2001) is a national case-control study including 377 infants with cleft lip ± palate (CLP), 196 infants with cleft palate only (CPO), and 763 controls. The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa, 1998-2008) is a national birth cohort including 123 infants with CLP, 61 infants with CPO, and 551 controls.
Results:
In the case-control study, there was the suggestion of an association of dermatologic corticosteroids with both CLP (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-7.7) and CPO (aOR, 3.4; CI, 0.87-13). There was no evidence of this association in the cohort data (odds ratio for CLP, 1.2; CI, 0.50-2.8 and odds ratio for CPO, 1.0; CI, 0.30-3.4), although exposure to dermatologic steroids was less specifically ascertained. There were no associations with other types of corticosteroids.
Conclusions:
Our data add to the suggestive but inconsistent findings for this association.
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Teratogenicity
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Acne Infection

