Actor Lee Dong-gun diagnosed with rare ankylosing spondylitis on reality show
South Korean actor Lee Dong-gun received a surprise medical diagnosis during his appearance on a reality TV show.
During the Sept. 28 episode of My Little Old Boy, Lee visited the hospital to see a doctor about his recurring uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, that had been troubling him for over a year.
“When it’s not severe, I feel like my eyes are bloodshot and my focus is slightly off,” he told the doctor. “When symptoms worsen, even light becomes painful. My right vision has significantly deteriorated.”
The doctor suggested that the Lovers in Paris actor might be suffering from ankylosing spondylitis—a type of arthritis that causes chronic spinal inflammation and, in severe cases, can prevent patients from straightening their lower backs. The condition is said to affect just 1% of the South Korean population.
X-ray images showed that the 45-year-old actor had severe inflammation in the sacroiliac joint.
“Inflammation at 2-3 stages is observed in the sacroiliac joint, and considering the recurring uveitis, we can diagnose ankylosing spondylitis,” the doctor said.
According to rheumatologist Dr. Bernadette Heizel Manapat-Reyes, who spoke during a panel discussion organized by the Department of Health, its common symptoms include recurring back pain and stiffness, pain, and swelling in other parts of the body.
The World Health Organization also noted that eye inflammation—which Lee was experiencing—compression fractures, or heart problems, also occur in AS.
While the cause is unknown, studies link it to genetics. It typically occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood and more frequently affects males.
There is no cure for AS, but "treatment and rehabilitation can reduce symptoms (i.e. pain and stiffness), slow progression of the disease, prevent complications (i.e. spinal deformity), and help to maintain functioning."
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also help to relieve inflammation, pain, and stiffness, the WHO noted.
The actor was advised to watch his diet and avoid alcohol and tobacco.
“If you don’t manage the condition even if symptoms seem mild now, problems may arise,” the doctor told Lee.
Lee rose to fame as an actor, starring in popular television dramas like Sweet 18, Lovers in Paris, and Stained Glass. Beyond acting, he also released a few albums, including My Biography in 2008.
