Gennaro Gattuso reveals 15-year battle with autoimmune disease

Former Italian footballer Gennaro Gattuso has revealed his 15-year battle with ocular myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness, specifically affecting the muscles around the eyes. During an appearance at the ‘Festival dello Sport’, Gattuso explained that the condition causes symptoms such as drooping eyelids and double vision.

To manage the condition and maintain his vision, Gattuso has been taking cortisone for 15 years. He noted that the medication required significant lifestyle changes, including a complete cessation of alcohol consumption for nearly seven years to avoid severe weight gain. Gattuso expressed gratitude that his condition has not progressed to more debilitating forms that leave patients bedridden.