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

There are close interactions among the developing oral cavity, pituitary gland, and central nervous system (CNS) in early embryonic life. In this study we aimed to screen endocrine abnormalities in patients with orofacial clefts in the neonatal period. Thirty-one patients with isolated orofacial median clefts wereincluded in the study. Pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal hormones were measured at the first week and remeasured in the third or fourth weeks. Imaging studies were done for detection of CNS anomalies in all patients. Endocrine abnormality was detected in 22 (70.9%) patients. The number of patients with single and multiple endocrine abnormalities were 13 (41.9%) and 9 (29%), respectively. Thyroid hormone-related disorders were detected in 10 (32.3%) patients. Growth hormone deficiency was detected in 4 (12.9%) patients. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone and/or glucocorticoid deficiency was detected in 5 (16.1%) patients. Neonatal hypoglycemia due to endocrinological abnormalities was detected in 6 (19.4%) patients. Defected mini-puberty was seen in 2 (15.4%) patients. There was no relationship between the types of orofacial cleft and endocrine abnormalities. Endocrinological evaluation of the patients with orofacial clefts in the neonatal period is a worthwhile endeavor to detect hormone deficiencies regardless of the type of the cleft.