Brief report: responses to rituximab suggest B cell-independent inflammation in cutaneous systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is heterogeneous, and responses of skin to rituximab are variable. This study was undertaken to determine the phenotype of rituximab-responsive disease.

Methods: Eighty-two patients with SLE who were receiving rituximab were prospectively studied.

Sensitivity and specificity of the classification of psoriatic arthritis criteria in early psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the Classification of Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) Study Group criteria in early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to compare them with the sensitivity and specificity of the Moll and Wright criteria.

Methods: The CASPAR Study Group criteria were applied to patients with early PsA (<24 months symptom duration) and to control patients with other new-onset inflammatory arthritides. Both groups were naive to all disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

An unusual case of testicular pain.

We present the first case of lupus presenting with testicular pain in an Asian man. This gentleman presented with clear features of lupus with fever, joint pain, rash, diarrhoea and vomiting. He had typical serology consistent with active lupus.

Occupational disorders: non-specific forearm pain.

Work-related upper limb disorder is a non-specific diagnosis for pain in the hand, wrist or, in particular, forearm once more discrete clinical conditions such as epicondylitis, tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome have been excluded. The pathophysiology of the condition is uncertain, although it is normally held to be related to an ergonomic incident. Ergonomic factors either at work or at home remain important and are discussed.