(CNN) — Ashton Kutcher revealed on Monday that he battled a serious autoimmune disease that has affected his hearing, sight and ability to walk for more than a year.
“About two years ago, I had this weird, super weird form of vasculitis,” Kutcher said in an exclusive video posted on “Access Hollywood” of an upcoming episode of National Geographic’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge.”
“It left me without vision, without hearing, it left me without balance. It took me like a year to get it back,” Kutcher told adventurer and host Bear Grylls as they walked through brambles and trees.
“You don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone, until you say, ‘I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to see once more.’ I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to hear once more, I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to walk once more.” Kutcher said. “I’m lucky to be alive.”
CNN has reached out to Kutcher’s representative, but has yet to hear back.
Complications from vasculitis killed actor-director Harold Ramis in 2014, Ramis’ agents said.
Ramis, who directed “Caddyshack,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and “Groundhog Day,” and starred in “Ghostbusters” and “Stripes,” has died at age 69, four years following contracting the disease.
Vasculitis symptoms
Vasculitis occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the veins, arteries, and small capillaries. The resulting inflammation narrows those blood vessels and restricts blood flow or even cuts it off altogether, which can lead to organ damage or create aneurysms (a bulge in the wall of a blood vessel), according to US National Institutes of Health (NIH). If an aneurysm bursts, it can cause internal bleeding that can lead to death.
Depending on the type and severity of the disease and the organs affected, the symptoms of vasculitis vary and can be mild, moderate, or life-threatening. The most common symptoms are loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, rash, aches and fever.
Age, ethnicity, family history, and lifestyle factors, such as smoking and illegal drug use, can contribute to the risk of vasculitis. Certain medications for high blood pressure, thyroid disease and infections may also contribute, the NIH notes.
Vasculitis can appear alone or together with other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or scleroderma. Having a hepatitis B or C infection can also be a trigger, as can blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation. In mild cases, over-the-counter pain relievers can help. In the most severe cases, doctors may prescribe steroids, monoclonal antibodies, and immunomodulators or immunosuppressive drugs, to name a few.