A descriptive epidemiologic study of cleft lip and palate in Spain.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of different cleft patterns by sex, side of the cleft, and family history of clefts in a referral hospital in the south of Spain. STUDY DESIGN One hundred twenty-three consecutive cleft lip subjects, with or without palates, attending the Stomatology Unit in the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital and in the Virgen Macarena University Hospital from October 2009 to May 2010 were studied. RESULTS The unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (54.4%) was most frequently found, followed by the bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (16.3%). Male patients (60.97%) and the left side (41.46%) were the most affected. A positive family history was observed in 21.94% of subjects. CONCLUSIONS The most frequent profile in the affected population was male with left unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. The high incidence of family history of cleft on the father's side prompts us to recommend further genetic research in this area.