Van der Woude syndrome is a condition that affects the development of the face. Many people with this disorder are born with either a cleft lip or a cleft palate (an opening in the upper lip or roof of the mouth), or both. Affected individuals usually have depressions (pits) near the center of the lower lip, which may appear moist due to the presence of salivary and mucous glands in the pits. Small mounds of tissue on the lower lip may also occur. In some cases, people with van der Woude syndrome have missing teeth.

People with van der Woude syndrome who have cleft lip and/or palate, like other individuals with these facial conditions, have an increased risk of delayed language development, learning disabilities, or other mild cognitive problems. The average IQ of individuals with van der Woude syndrome is not significantly different from that of the general population.

Van der Woude syndrome is believed to occur in 1 in 35,000 to 1 in 100,000 people, based on data from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Van der Woude syndrome is the most common cause of cleft lip and palate resulting from genetic variations.

Variations (also known as mutations) in the IRF6 gene cause most cases of van der Woude syndrome. The IRF6 gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays an important role in early development. This protein is a transcription factor, which means that it attaches (binds) to specific regions of DNA and helps control the activity of particular genes. The IRF6 protein is active in cells that give rise to tissues in the head and face. It is also involved in the development of other parts of the body, including the skin and genitals.

Variants in the IRF6 gene that cause van der Woude syndrome prevent one copy of the gene in each cell from making any functional protein. A shortage of the IRF6 protein affects the development and maturation of tissues in the face, resulting in the signs and symptoms of van der Woude syndrome.

In about five percent of cases, van der Woude syndrome is caused by variants in the GRHL3 gene.

Genetic Testing Information

• Genetic Testing Registry: Van der Woude syndrome 1

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

• Van der Woude syndrome

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

• VAN DER WOUDE SYNDROME 1; VWS1

Scientific Articles on PubMed

• PubMed

• Butali A, Mossey PA, Adeyemo WL, Eshete MA, Gaines LA, Even D, Braimah RO, Aregbesola BS, Rigdon JV, Emeka CI, James O, Ogunlewe MO, Ladeinde AL, Abate F, Hailu T, Mohammed I, Gravem PE, Deribew M, Gesses M, Adeyemo AA, Murray JC. Novel IRF6 mutations in families with Van Der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome from sub-Saharan Africa. Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2014 May;2(3):254-60. doi: 10.1002/mgg3.66. Epub 2014 Jan 27. Citation on PubMed
• Ghassibe M, Revencu N, Bayet B, Gillerot Y, Vanwijck R, Verellen-Dumoulin C, Vikkula M. Six families with van der Woude and/or popliteal pterygium syndrome: all with a mutation in the IRF6 gene. J Med Genet. 2004 Feb;41(2):e15. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2003.009274. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Kondo S, Schutte BC, Richardson RJ, Bjork BC, Knight AS, Watanabe Y, Howard E, de Lima RL, Daack-Hirsch S, Sander A, McDonald-McGinn DM, Zackai EH, Lammer EJ, Aylsworth AS, Ardinger HH, Lidral AC, Pober BR, Moreno L, Arcos-Burgos M, Valencia C, Houdayer C, Bahuau M, Moretti-Ferreira D, Richieri-Costa A, Dixon MJ, Murray JC. Mutations in IRF6 cause Van der Woude and popliteal pterygium syndromes. Nat Genet. 2002 Oct;32(2):285-9. doi: 10.1038/ng985. Epub 2002 Sep 3. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Nopoulos P, Richman L, Andreasen N, Murray JC, Schutte B. Cognitive dysfunction in adults with Van der Woude syndrome. Genet Med. 2007 Apr;9(4):213-8. doi: 10.1097/gim.0b013e3180335abd. Citation on PubMed
• Nopoulos P, Richman L, Andreasen NC, Murray JC, Schutte B. Abnormal brain structure in adults with Van der Woude syndrome. Clin Genet. 2007 Jun;71(6):511-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00799.x. Citation on PubMed
• Rizos M, Spyropoulos MN. Van der Woude syndrome: a review. Cardinal signs, epidemiology, associated features, differential diagnosis, expressivity, genetic counselling and treatment. Eur J Orthod. 2004 Feb;26(1):17-24. doi: 10.1093/ejo/26.1.17. Citation on PubMed
• Schutte BC, Saal HM, Goudy S, Leslie EJ. IRF6-Related Disorders. 2003 Oct 30 [updated 2021 Mar 4]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2025. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1407/ Citation on PubMed