Facial cleft and associated anomalies: incidence among infants at a Jordanian medical centre

To estimate incidence of cleft lip and cleft palate among Jordanian infants and to identify associated anomalies, we carried out a prospective, hospital-based study over a 5-year period, Januay 2000–January 2005. The total number of liveborn infants was 25 440, 60 of whom (2.4/1000) had facial clefts: 20 (33%) with cleft lip, 15 (25%) with cleft palate and 25 (42%) with both. Congenital heart disease was the commonest associated anomaly (47%) identified, followed by skeletal abnormalities (13%). Renal anomalies were found in 10% of cases. The high prevalence of congenital heart disease may justify routine echocardiography screening. The high consanguineous marriage rate may be a contributing factor to the high incidence of cleft anomalies.