What was the Cause of Brecht's Death? Towards a Medical History

The first academic investigation into Brecht's medical history draws upon medical records in the Brecht Archive in Berlin to demonstrate that Brecht, who was diagnosed as a nervous child with an enlarged heart, suffered virtually throughout his entire life from the consequences of the childhood contraction of the syndrome of theumatic fever. The syndrome manifested itself in carditis and Sydenham's corea. Recurrent carditis led to chronic heart failure. Syndenham's corea presented as a facial grimace in childhood, thereafter in erratic movement at tomes of great stress. Coupled with a chronic urological problem, Brecht's chronic heart failure led to his early death. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]