Van der Woude Syndrome is a genetic condition which features ‘lower lip pits‘ combined with a cleft lip (with or without cleft palate), or cleft palate alone.
There are many syndromes which involve a cleft, but Van Der Woude is the only known syndrome which can happen with any combination of a cleft lip, cleft palate, or cleft lip and palate.
How common is Van der Woude Syndrome?
Van der Woude Syndrome is rare, affecting an estimated one in 35,000-100,000 people.
A person with Van der Woude Syndrome has a 50% chance of passing it on to any children.
How does Van der Woude Syndrome affect people?
There is a lot of variation in how it can affect people. Some people with Van Der Woude Syndrome are not even aware of their lip pits and do not have a cleft, so may not be aware they have this syndrome. Others may have very obvious lip pits, a large cleft and other symptoms.
Other features associated with Van der Woude Syndrome include:
- Hypodontia (where teeth are missing because they haven’t developed)
- A narrow arched palate
- Congenital heart disease
- A heart murmer
- Cerebral abnormailities
- Ankyloglossia (tongue tie)
- Syndactyly of the hands (where fingers are fused together)