[Prevention of lip-maxilla-palate clefts]

Cheilognathopalatoschisis is among the common isolated congenital malformations. Its occurrence is more frequent than random incidence would be, with high familial incidence. Preventive attempts have been guided by the concept that nutritive factors are involved in the realisation of these inhibitory malformations. A multivitamin substitution course initiated even before conception was found to be correlated with a significant reduction of recurrence rates in several studies. The statistical and practical implications and problems are discussed. This treatment can be recommended as an individual preventive measure in case of pregnancies with risk of cheilognathopalatoschisis, but it will not be helpful in familial incidence of median cleft palate.