It may sound contradictory, but doctors say this can occur with lupus.
Like many autoimmune diseases, lupus is a mystifying condition. It's often hard to diagnose because of its vague and varying symptoms. No two cases are alike, according to medical experts. The disease can come and go without explanation, and its severity varies from mild discomfort to death.
"It is such a variable disease, that it's difficult [to diagnose] unless you deal with it all the time," said Dr. Gary Gilkeson, the vice chair of the department of medicine for research at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Lupus commonly affects women of color and occurs when antibodies that fight infections attack the body's own tissues. This causes symptoms such as swelling, rashes, joint pain, mouth sores and hair loss. It can become more severe if the inflammation spreads to kidneys, the heart, lungs, blood vessels and the brain. Patients often feel exhausted.
"Lupus is in my family, and it is genetic," Lady Gaga said. "And it's so funny because my mother told me the other day that my fans were quite worried about me because they did talk about the fact that I was tested for lupus.
"And the truth is I don't show any signs, any symptoms of lupus. But I have tested borderline positive for the disease. So as of right now ... I do not have it. But I have to take good care of myself."
Patients suspected of having lupus may undergo blood and urine tests or kidney or liver assessments.
"There is not a single lab test that is specific for lupus," said Gilkeson, who chairs the Lupus Foundation of America's medical-scientific advisory council. "You have to use the combination of the lab tests plus the clinical signs and symptoms."
The tests aren't always conclusive. Lady Gaga's "borderline positive" result could be referring to the antinuclear antibody test, doctors say.
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