Treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis with minocycline or placebo: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if minocycline is an effective therapy for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when used within the first year of disease.


METHODS
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigational Network enrolled 46 patients with RA of <1 year duration into a 6-month study of minocycline (100 mg twice daily) versus placebo. All patients were rheumatoid factor positive. The primary end point of the study was successful completion of 6 months of treatment with no drug toxicity while maintaining 50% improvement in composite symptoms of arthritis.


RESULTS
Eighteen of the 46 patients who were enrolled met 50% improvement criteria at 3 months, and maintained at least a 50% improvement for 6 months with no significant drug toxicity. Among them were 15 of the 23 patients (65%) treated with minocycline and 3 of 23 patients (13%) treated with placebo (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with early seropositive RA, therapy with minocycline is superior to placebo.
O'Dell
J R
JR
University of Nebraska Medical Center and Omaha VA Hospital, 68198-3025, USA.
Haire
C E
CE
Palmer
W
W
Drymalski
W
W
Wees
S
S
Blakely
K
K
Churchill
M
M
Eckhoff
P J
PJ
Weaver
A
A
Doud
D
D
Erikson
N
N
Dietz
F
F
Olson
R
R
Maloley
P
P
Klassen
L W
LW
Moore
G F
GF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008911:Minocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D010919:Placebos; D008911:Minocycline