Dermatan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan (formerly called a mucopolysaccharide) found mostly in skin, but also in blood vessels, heart valves, tendons, and lungs.

This carbohydrate is composed of linear polymers of disaccharide units that contain, N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc) and iduronic acid (IdoA).

[3] Dermatan sulfate may have roles in coagulation, cardiovascular disease, carcinogenesis, infection, wound repair, maintaining the shape of galactosamine 4-sulfate, skin, and fibrosis.

This chronic prolapse occurs mainly in women over the age of 60, and can predispose the patient to mitral annular calcification.

Mitral valve insufficiency can lead to eccentric (volume dependent or dilated) hypertrophy and eventually left heart failure if untreated.