Antibiotic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Scientific and anecdotal appraisals.

Minocycline is arguably the most interesting new drug for rheumatoid arthritis since the development of methotrexate. Tetracycline compounds have long been used by rheumatologists who were considered mavericks by their peers, and recent controlled studies have demonstrated their antirheumatic activity. The reason that minocycline works is unclear, and their niche in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis remains to be established. Nonetheless, it is clear that some patients with rheumatoid arthritis respond favorably to this form of treatment.