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Living with Cleft lip/palate-intestinal malrotation-cardiopathy syndrome

A rare syndrome with cleft palate, distinct facial features, intestinal malrotation, and serious heart defects.

Understanding Cleft lip/palate-intestinal malrotation-cardiopathy syndrome

Cleft lip/palate-intestinal malrotation-cardiopathy syndrome is a rare syndrome of multiple birth differences.

Features include a flat face, wide-set eyes, a flat back of the head, upward-slanting eyelid openings, cleft palate, a small lower jaw, a short neck, and severe congenital heart defects. The intestine may be twisted (malrotation). Other features can include curved little fingers, a two-lobed tongue, and split thumbs. GARD lists onset at birth.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Heart differences, including an underdeveloped left heart
  • Cleft palate
  • Flat face
  • Small lower jaw
  • Short neck
  • Curved little fingers

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include ear, nose, and throat specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    World Craniofacial Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Ear, nose, and throat specialists (otolaryngologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: World Craniofacial Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with World Craniofacial Foundation and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which heart care and surgery options does my child need?
Should the intestines be checked for malrotation?
Which specialists should be on the care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD lists this condition as autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent. It doesn't name a gene.

Genetic

Also known as: cleft lip and cleft palate with intestinal malrotation and cardiopathy syndrome; cleft lip, cleft palate, characteristic facies, intestinal malrotation, and lethal congenital heart disease; cleft lip/palate with characteristic facies, intestinal malrotation, and lethal congenital heart disease; mcpherson clemens syndrome; mcpherson-clemens syndrome

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Cleft lip/palate-intestinal malrotation-cardiopathy syndromeGARD ID 3430 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Cleft lip/palate-intestinal malrotation-cardiopathy syndrome.

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