Small anomalies of heart development (MARS) in children

Upon learning that the child has any heart problems, all parents begin to worry. Especially if the diagnosis is an unfamiliar abbreviation, for example, MARS. But instead of panic, it is better to study the question and find out what lies behind these letters and whether such a “cosmic” diagnosis is dangerous for the lives of children.

MARS children need to decipher as follows:

• M - small
• A - anomalies
• R - development
• C - hearts

The group MARS include:

• Aneurysm of interatrial septum. This is a fairly common problem in which the septum bulges into the right atrium in the place where the oval fossa is located.
• Additional chords and trabeculae. They are cords of connective tissue attached to the ventricles at one end. Such chords are plural, but more often in singular. In most children, they are found in the left ventricle and only 5% of cases are located in the right.
• Open oval window. The lack of closure of this opening, which is necessary for the fetus for normal intrauterine development, is diagnosed at the age of over a year, but even by the age of 5 it can close on its own.
• Prolapse valves. Most often, a change in the mitral valve is detected (only the first degree of this pathology is related to MARS), but some children have prolapsed and other valves, such as the aorta, inferior vena cava or pulmonary artery, and tricuspid valve.
• The expansion of the pulmonary artery. For most children, this dilation does not violate the borders of the heart and does not affect the blood flow.
• Aortic double valve. As a rule, one leaf in such a valve is larger than the second. This valve does not function as well as a normal tricuspid one - its opening is incomplete in systole, and regurgitation is observed during diastole, which results in inflammation of the valve leaflet and formation of calcifications in it.
• Increased Eustachian valve. Anomaly is diagnosed when the valve size is greater than 1 centimeter.
• Changes in the structure of the papillary muscles.
• Expansion or contraction of the aortic root.

The appearance of changes related to MARS in a child is possible for various reasons. This may be due to mutagenic effects on fetal tissue, in particular on its heart, during embryogenesis. Often, MARS are a symptom of genetic and congenital defects of connective tissue (dysplasia).

Factors that can provoke the appearance of anomalies include:

• Hereditary predisposition.
• Chromosomal diseases.
• Stress during pregnancy.
• Insufficient or unbalanced nutrition of the future mother.
• Radiation exposure of a woman during gestation.
• Smoking during pregnancy.
• The use of the future mother of alcohol or drugs in the first trimester.
• Unfavorable environmental conditions.
• Infections in the future mother.
• Reception pregnant drugs.

On the effect of alcohol on the body of the expectant mother, see the following video.

Clinical signs of MARS in newborns are usually absent. For many children, such anomalies do not manifest themselves at a later age either. Symptoms of MARS may appear during active growth of the child or after the onset of some acquired disease. Anomalies can occur:

• Pain or tingling in the heart.
• Feelings of disruption of the heart.
• Changes in blood pressure parameters.
• Weakness and quick fatigue.
• Dizziness.

The presence of MARS in rare cases may threaten the occurrence of:

• Infective endocarditis.
• Arrhythmias.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• Sudden death.
• Calcification and valve fibrosis.

You can suspect MARS from a heart murmur that a doctor can listen to after birth. This is usually a systolic murmur, which changes as the child moves and loads. When a baby is detected, it is sent to an ultrasound of the heart, since this examination most accurately confirms the presence of abnormalities in the heart and their effect on the blood flow. Also, children with MARS are often given ECG to identify heart rhythm problems.

In most cases, children with MARS treatment is not required. They are recommended:

• Balanced eat.
• Observe the regime of rest and labor.
• Engage in physical therapy.
• Avoid stress.

Sports are prohibited with mitral valve prolapse, cardialgia, ECG changes, fainting, and rhythm disturbances.

Surgical treatment of MARS is required in isolated cases, and often the treatment is performed through endoscopic manipulation.

About why children have heart pains and what to do with it, see the program by Dr. Komarovsky.