Are there any other conditions associated with clefts?

For instance, in a condition known as Pierre Robin Sequence, the palate is associated with a small jaw, making breathing and feeding difficult. In a condition known as Stickler’s syndrome is a subgroup of Pierre Robin Sequence and, there may be associated eye abnormalities, which can lead to retinal detachment and even blindness if not treated. A condition known as 22q11 deletion syndrome (or velocardiofacial syndrome) is frequently associated with a cleft palate or a poorly functioning palate which may not actually be cleft. This has been a major area of research for CLEFT. Please click here to find out more information about 22q11 deletion syndrome. In another condition, van der Woude syndrome (where a cleft may be associated with pits in the lower lip), we now know the gene involved.