Ashton Kutcher says he is "lucky to be alive" after a rare version of a disease damaged his hearing, vision, and walking.
"Like two years ago I had this weird, super rare form of vasculitis, that like knocked out my vision, it knocked out my hearing, it knocked out like all my equilibrium," he told British Tv personality Bear Grills on Discovery.
Before there are a bunch of rumors/ chatter/ whatever out there. Yes, I had a rare vasculitis episode 3yrs ago. (Autoimmune flair up) I had some impairments hear, vision, balance issues right after. I fully recovered. All good. Moving on. See you at the 2022 NY Marathon w/Thorn
"You don't really appreciate it until it's gone. Until you go, 'I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to see again, I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to hear again, I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to walk again,' " he says.
According to the British National Health Service (NHS), vasculitis is the inflamation of blood vessels. The immune system's natural response to injury or infection, usually casuing swelling, but with vasculitis the immune system attacks healthy blood vessels.
This can be triggered by an infection or rejection of a medicine.
There are many different types of vasculitis, but the one which could fit Kutcher's assessment best would be Cogan's syndrome. This version of the illness is an inflammation of the ears and eyes with the same symptoms described by Kutcher.
Treatment is usually steroids and anti-inflammation drugs. Immunosuppressive drugs may be necessary. No clinical trials have been carried out to find a specific treatment. The disease is very rare.