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The power and strength of Fryderyk Chopin’s timeless music was unfortunately not reflected in his health. The situation grew worse with each passing year. The artist struggled with a tiring cough, shortness of breath and hemoptysis. He lived only 39 years. Scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences suspected cystic fibrosis, but the examination of Chopin’s heart directed their attention in a different direction. On March 1, on the anniversary of the birth of the genius composer, we present the results of pioneering research by Polish scientists.
- Chopin struggled with a tiring cough, periodic shortness of breath, expectoration of thick and sticky secretions, and later in the disease he developed hemoptysis
- Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most likely diagnosis from the beginning. Other suspicions circulated, among others around cystic fibrosis and mitral valve regurgitation
- Scientists from the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań conducted a macroscopic analysis of Chopin’s heart.
- The obtained morphological data indicate with high probability that in the last period of his life Chopin suffered from fibrinous pericarditis – a complication of active tuberculosis
- You can find more similar stories on the Onet homepage.
Fryderyk Chopin’s poor health. Changes in the heart and lungs
Chopin suffered from a chronic disease the main symptoms of which were related to the respiratory tract. The artist struggled with a tiring cough and periodic shortness of breath, expectoration of thick and sticky secretions, and hemoptysis that appeared later in the disease. It is known from family history that the composer’s younger sister, Emilia, died at the age of 14, also of symptomatically similar, but more rapidly developing lung disease.
During the autopsy of Fryderyk Chopin, significant structural changes in the heart were found, surprisingly – stronger than changes in the lungs.
The composer’s heart, in accordance with his will, was taken from the body and properly secured and transported to Warsaw. Fryderyk Chopin was buried at the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris; his heart is in the Church of St. Cross at Krakowskie Przedmieście in Warsaw.
Photo Shutterstock / Andrzej Lisowski Travel
What was Fryderyk Chopin ill with? Scientists’ suspicions
What disease did the symptoms of Fryderyk Chopin indicate? Due to their multiplicity and severity, pulmonary tuberculosis was the most likely diagnosis from the very beginning. Other suspicions circulated, among others around cystic fibrosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency or mitral valve regurgitation. All of the listed diseases have many similar nonspecific clinical symptoms, such as chronic cough, shortness of breath and general weakness.
– At the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań, we considered the possibility of cystic fibrosis in Chopin with particular attention, admits prof. Michał Witt, Director of the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań.
Fig. Institute of Consciousness / Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences
According to the specialist, it could be evidenced by many years of course, choking cough with expectoration of a large amount of sticky secretion, significant emaciation and poor tolerance of exercise, recurrent inflammation of the lower and upper respiratory tract, often including sinusitis and laryngitis, the need for a fat-free diet, stroke heat, symptoms of pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthritis. – One should also remember about the lack of children despite the long relationship with George Sand, as well as the lung disease manifested in a similar way in Emilia’s sister. The presence of the disease in only one generation is typical of a type of inheritance such as in cystic fibrosis, explains Prof. Witt.
Cystic fibrosis in Fryderyk Chopin is, however, theoretical considerations. As admitted by prof. Witt, its typical symptom is the presence of the so-called stick fingers. It is a symptom of thickening of the distal phalanges which take on a characteristic club-shaped shape. Meanwhile, it is missing in the well-known cast of Chopin’s left hand, made after the composer’s death in 1849.
The rest of the article under the video:
Genetic testing for cystic fibrosis is available from Medonet Market.
Chopin had pericarditis? One of the most serious complications of disseminated tuberculosis
The team of the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences from Poznań, together with Wrocław forensic physicians, cardiologists and pathologists, are the only ones in the world to publish the results of macroscopic analysis of Fryderyk Chopin’s heart. This took place in 2018 in the renowned American Journal of Medicine.
The morphological data obtained in these studies most likely indicate that Chopin suffered from fibrinous pericarditis in the last period of his life. This is evidenced by fibrinous sediment on its surface, foci of enamel, focal bloody ecchymoses on the anterior wall of the left ventricle, dilatation of mainly the right ventricle and right atrium, with clear features of right ventricular chronic heart failure.
It can be said with high probability that Chopin’s pericarditis was a complication of active tuberculosis and therefore should be treated as tuberculous pericarditis (pericarditis tuberculosa). This is one of the most severe organ complications of disseminated tuberculosis.
– On the basis of our macroscopic analysis with a high probability bordering with certainty it can be stated with certainty that the main disease suffered by Fryderyk Chopin was long-term disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis. It became the cause of the progressive deterioration of the composer’s general physical condition and many different symptoms, mainly from the respiratory tract – says Prof. Michał Witt.
– Tuberculous pericarditis, rapidly progressing in the last period of his life, was probably the direct cause of the composer’s death by leading to cardio-respiratory failure. This almost ultimately resolves the problem of Fryderyk Chopin’s illness and the cause of death, although only genetic analysis could provide final and unquestionable evidence of the hypotheses. – says the scientist.
The results of the macroscopic analysis of Fryderyk Chopin’s heart carried out by Polish scientists are of fundamental importance for the world history of music and culture, and are extremely important for Polish national culture and science.
- If in Chopin’s time there were special medical devices supporting breathing and expectoration, maybe he could create new musical masterpieces longer. The Cough Assistant – Philips Respironics CoughAssist E70 coflator is available on Medonet Market.
Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences / Ewelina Zych-Mył
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