The Relationship Between Cleft Deformity and Drug Use in Early Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study

Kim, Sukwha; Oh, Changhyun

Abstract

Cleft lip and/or palate are the most common congenital malformations in the head and neck region throughout the world. Both genetic and environmental influences were believed to cause cleft lip and palate. This study has been undertaken in order to find the possible relationship between cleft lip and palate and drug use in early pregnancy. The data from 314 mothers of infants who have cleft deformity under 2 years old were analyzed as a case group. And the data from 312 mothers of healthy infants under 2 year old were analyzed as a control group. The data including birth weight of baby, age of mother and drug use in early pregnancy were collected through direct interview using questionnaire. The data were calculated by multivariate analysis to evaluate the possible association between drug use in early pregnancy and the occurrence of cleft deformity. There was no difference between the case and control group regarding to birth weight and the age of mother. And there was positive relations of smoking of mother and indoor smoking of father with the occurrence of cleft palate. Alcohol consumption of mother was also related with the occurrence of cleft lip and cleft lip with palate. The data showed positive relation of the drugs for common cold-including antitussives, antihistamine, NSAID-with the occurrence of cleft lip and cleft lip with palate. There was also positive relation of herb medicine with the occurrence of cleft lip and isolated cleft palate. In the case of multivitamin users, significantly decreasing cleft lip occurrence was showed. The data showed that the exposure of some kinds of drugs in early pregnancy may play some role in the development of cleft deformity. But further studies designed to focus on specific component of suspected drugs and the amount exposed in early pregnancy to reveal the causal relationship are also needed.