Treatment of early Rheumatoid Arthritis with minocycline or placebo. Results of a Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

Abstract

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 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). Conclusion. In patients with early seropositive RA, therapy with minocycline is superior to placebo.