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Endocrine abnormalities of patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate during the neonatal period

Mustafa Ali Akin1, Selim Kurtoğlu, Dilek Sarici

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. mustafaaliakin@hotmail.com

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
|January 2, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal screening for endocrine abnormalities is crucial for infants with orofacial clefts, as 70.9% showed hormone deficiencies. Early detection of issues like thyroid disorders and growth hormone deficiency can guide timely intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • The developing oral cavity, pituitary gland, and central nervous system (CNS) exhibit intricate interactions during early embryogenesis.
  • Orofacial clefts are congenital conditions that may be associated with broader developmental issues.
  • Understanding these early interactions is key to identifying potential health complications in affected neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To screen for endocrine abnormalities in neonates diagnosed with orofacial clefts.
  • To investigate the prevalence of pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal hormone dysfunctions in this population.
  • To assess the need for early endocrinological evaluation in infants with orofacial clefts.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 31 neonates with isolated orofacial median clefts was studied.
  • Hormone levels (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal) were measured in the first week and again at 3-4 weeks of life.
  • All patients underwent imaging studies to detect central nervous system (CNS) anomalies.

Main Results:

  • A significant majority, 70.9% (22/31) of patients, exhibited endocrine abnormalities.
  • Thyroid disorders were found in 32.3% (10/31), growth hormone deficiency in 12.9% (4/31), and ACTH/glucocorticoid deficiency in 16.1% (5/31).
  • Neonatal hypoglycemia (19.4%) and disrupted mini-puberty (15.4%) were also observed, with no correlation between cleft type and endocrine issues.

Conclusions:

  • Endocrinological screening in neonates with orofacial clefts is highly recommended.
  • Early detection of hormone deficiencies is possible and valuable, irrespective of the specific type of orofacial cleft.
  • This proactive approach can lead to timely management of potential endocrine-related complications.
Abstract

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