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Growth factor analysis in children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts: a systematic review

Huqh MZU, Yaacob HB, Veerabhadrappa SK, Abdullah JY, Saheb SD, Quadri SA, Marya A, Selvaraj S

BMC oral health, 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are one of the most prevalent congenital abnormalities that affect the lip and/or palate and can cause significant growth retardation in newborns. Several studies have revealed that children with congenital defects or genetic syndromes have their own growth pattern, which may differ from that of normal children. However, during infancy and until around age two, these babies usually show a period of catch-up growth in length, weight, and head circumference for both boys and girls. It was noted out that both genders had smaller physical dimensions than normal children. In order to partially elucidate the biological mechanism affecting children with non-syndromic OFCs, this systematic review aims to assess the relative expression and localization of growth factors and their receptors in craniofacial tissues. METHOD: A comprehensive literature search was carried out on May 1, 2025, using three important databases: Web of Science Core collection, PubMed, and Scopus. The search was limited to only English-language studies involving human subjects, but it was not limited by publication date. To find potentially relevant publications, specific keywords and database-specific search techniques were used. RESULTS: Based on predefined inclusion criteria, 20 studies were selected from a total of 191 articles following a thorough screening process. Growth factors and susceptibility to OFCs were found to be significantly correlated in the analysis of the…

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