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Julius Caesar's Late Onset Epilepsy: A Case of Historic Proportions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Richard S. McLachlan
Richard S. McLachlan*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
*
London Health Sciences Centre, 339 Windermere Rd, London, Ontario, N6A 5A5, Canada.
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Abstract

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This is a case report of Julius Caesar's epilepsy that onset when he was 54-years-old. The differential diagnosis of late onset epilepsy is discussed and the rationale presented for concluding from the clinical presentation that the cause was neurocysticercosis. That this man's disease and its consequences altered the course of history is a very real possibility.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:

Il s’agit d’une analyse de l’histoire d’épilepsie rapportée chez Jules César, dont la maladie aurait débuté alors qu’il avait 54 ans. Nous discutons du diagnostic différentiel de l’épilepsie à début tardif et des raisons qui motivent notre conclusion. À notre avis, il s’agissait d’une neurocysticercose à cause des manifestations cliniques qu’il a présentées. Il est fort possible que la maladie de cet homme et ses conséquences aient modifié le cours de l’histoire.

Type
Historical Review
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , September 2010 , pp. 557 - 561
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2010

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