Minocycline in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Interest in the use of tetracyclines, especially minocycline, in arthritis is described in relation to the historical background. The scientific basis for the use of tetracyclines in rheumatoid arthritis is discussed in the light of new insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. During the past 2 years several studies have been published on the use of minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis. The results of these studies were to a large extent similar, in that minocycline was beneficial in terms of clinical outcome measures, but had more pronounced effects on laboratory assessments. Finally, we speculate about the future role of minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis.