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Abstract Objective . To determine the efficacy of minocycline in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods . Minocycline (maximal oral daily dose 200 mg) or placebo was administered in a 26‐week, randomized, double‐blind study to 80 patients with active RA, who were treated or had previously been treated with at least one disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug. Results . There were 15 premature discontinuations: 6 (5 taking minocycline) because of adverse effects, 8 (all taking placebo) because of lack of efficacy, and 1 (taking placebo) because of intercurrent illness. There was a statistically significant improvement in the minocycline group over the placebo group. There was a pronounced improvement in laboratory parameters of disease activity; however, improvement in clinical parameters was less impressive. The observed adverse effects attributable to minocycline were mainly gastrointestinal symptoms and dizziness. Conclusion . The results of the present study suggest that minocycline is beneficial and relatively safe in RA patients.
Kloppenburg et al. (Sun,) studied this question.