Pain threshold was measured using a simple pressure algometer in 190 subjects. The measurement had a highly acceptable intra-observer error. Significantly lower pain thresholds were observed in all of the five areas of the body studied in females. The most sensitive area was the forehead. There was a higher pain threshold in the dominant hand. Anxiety and fear of pain significantly reduced the threshold.

We evaluated effectiveness of rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in combination with low dose cyclophosphamide and intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone in three pediatric SLE patients with relapsing class IV nephritis.