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For years, researchers have speculated that infectious agents such as mycoplasma or chlamydia might cause some cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, studies of tetracycline for RA have yielded mixed results. This multicenter trial evaluated minocycline, which, like tetracycline, has both antibiotic and non-antibiotic anti-inflammatory activity.
The authors randomized 219 adults with active, mild to moderate RA to take either minocycline (200 mg daily) or placebo for 48 weeks. Many patients were receiving concomitant nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents or low-dose oral steroids, but no other antirheumatic agents were allowed.
Compared to the placebo group, minocycline users had higher rates of improvement in joint swelling (54% vs. 39…