Congenital heart diseases in children with oral clefts

ABSTRACT

Oral clefts are common birth defects often known to be associated with other congenital malformations, Congenital heart diseases [CHDs] are found to be the most common, islolated, associated malformations. The purpose of this study is to detect the prevalence of CHDs in patients with oral clefts. We studied 105 patients presented to CUCH [Cairo University Children Hospital] over one year. A full history and physical examination in addition to full echocardiographic examination were done to all patients. The mean age was 18.9 +/- 18.2 month. 58.1% of patients were males. 55.2% patients had both cleft lip and palate [group 1], while 30.5% had cleft palate [group2], and 14.3% had only cleft lip [group 3]. CHDs were found in 21 patients [20%] compared to 0.1% in general Egyptian population. Type of cleft did not correlate with the frequency of CHDs with a P value = 0.336. ASD was the most common detected defect followed by PDA. Other congenital malformations and dysmorphic features were detected in [9.5%] patients. Cleft patients with CHDs had a statistically significant higher percentage of associated other congenital malformations and dysmorphic features compared to cleft patients with normal heart [a p value = 0.026, <0.001 respectively]. The high prevalence of congenital heart disease in cleft patients may justify a routine echocardiographic screening for all patients with oral clefts