Diazepam effects on non-syndromic cleft lip with or without palate: epidemiological studies, clinical findings, genes and extracellular matrix

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: This review analyses international studies investigating the combined genetic and environmental causes of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) and describes successes and limitations in identifying underlying genetic and environmental factors. CL/P, the most common congenital facial malformation, is a major public health burden in terms of medical costs and emotional stress to patients and families. Because genetic and environmental factors determine risk of occurrence, CL/P has a complex, multifactor aetiology. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: English language reports from 1980 to 2010 were searched for in Medline, PubMed, Science Citation Index, textbooks and review articles on drugs and pregnancy. Key words were diazepam or benzodiazepine(s) combined with cleft lip, cleft palate, oral malformations, prenatal exposure, GABA, gene expression and extracellular matrix. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: This review presents an updated assessment of the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of diazepam (DZ), one of the most commonly used benzodiazepines, on CL/P occurrence. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Data are divergent; more studies are needed for an in-depth picture of the effects of DZ during gestation on the child's development, particularly on orofacial clefts.