Lack of effect of doxycycline on disease activity and joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A double blind, placebo controlled trial
article
Objective. To investigate the effects of doxycycline on disease activity and joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A 36 week double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial was conducted. Patients (n = 66) received 50 mg doxycycline or placebo twice a day during 12, 24, or 36 weeks. Patient assessments were performed before the treatment was administered, at 6, 12, 24 and 36 weeks of treatment, and finally at 4 weeks after cessation of treatment. Patient assessments, swollen and tender joint counts, duration of morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and Modified Disease Activity Score were used as measures of disease activity. Effects on joint destruction were assessed by urinary excretion of the pyridinolines hydroxylysylpyridinoline and lysylpyridinoline and by scoring radiographic damage of hands and feet before and after treatment. Results. The changes of clinical or laboratory disease activity measures, pyridinoline excretion, or progression of radiographic joint damage during doxycycline or placebo treatment did not differ significantly. Conclusion. The results indicate that 50 mg doxycycline twice a day provided no therapeutic benefit for patients with RA.
Topics
Biomedical ResearchDoxycyclinePyridinolinesRheumatoid arthritisDeoxypyridinolineDoxycyclinePlaceboPyridinolineClinical examinationClinical trialControlled clinical trialControlled studyCrossover procedureDisease activityDouble blind procedureErythrocyte sedimentation rateFoot radiographyHand radiographyJoint destructionJoint stiffnessLaboratory testMajor clinical studyRandomized controlled trialScoring systemAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnalysis of VarianceArthritis, RheumatoidChi-Square DistributionCross-Over StudiesDose-Response Relationship, DrugDouble-Blind MethodDoxycyclineDrug Administration ScheduleFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementReference ValuesSeverity of Illness IndexTreatment FailureTreatment Outcome
TNO Identifier
236218
ISSN
0315162X
Source
Journal of Rheumatology, 28(9), pp. 1967-1974.
Pages
1967-1974
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.