Kloppenburg M, Dijkmans BA, Breedveld FC. Antimicrobial therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
BAILLIERE'S CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY 1995;
9:759-69. [PMID:
8591652 DOI:
10.1016/s0950-3579(05)80312-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
New interest in the use of antibiotics in the treatment of arthritis was stimulated by two factors: (1) observations that, in some forms of chronic arthritis, microbial antigens persist in the synovial membrane, and (2) the increasing knowledge of the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of antibiotics. Recently, several published controlled studies reported a beneficial effect of tetracyclines on RA and reactive arthritis. Whether the anti-arthritic activity of the tetracyclines investigated is mediated by the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory properties remains to be determined. It may be concluded from these studies that tetracyclines have a beneficial effect on RA, especially when laboratory parameters are considered. The effect on the clinical parameters is not unequivocal. The adverse effects seem to be mild but the long-term efficacy and safety of tetracyclines as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs remain to be demonstrated.
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