Hence, neonates with high severity score and with clefts affecting the lip and alveolus (BCLP/UCLP) presenting higher levels of GM-CSF, TNF, IL-1ß/-6/-8 on tongue smear samples might therefore be more at risk for progression of inflammatory processes than neonates with low severity score or cleft of the palate only (CPo). This evidence concerns the gene CSF2 and cleft palate.