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Antirheumatic Therapy: Actions and Outcomes pp 237–245Cite as

Tetracyclines

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Part of the book series: Progress in Inflammation Research ((PIR))

Abstract

The tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics discovered in the 1940s that were quickly recognized for their effectiveness against a variety of microorganisms. These drugs remain important for treatment of infections caused by mycoplasma, rickettsiae, Chlamydia, and some spirochetes. Tetracyclines were initially proposed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on the belief that the disease may be caused or triggered by an infectious etiology [1, 2]. It is clear there is a link between infection and certain cases of polyarthritis related to hepatitis C, parvovirus, and Lyme disease. Although an infectious cause of RA has not been demonstrated, the role of the tetracycline family in treating RA has been re-examined due to the discovery of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of these agents.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, Suite 912, P.O. Box 250623, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Kristin Bird

  2. Section of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency Training Program, 983025 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-3025, USA

    James R. O’Dell

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  1. Kristin Bird
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  2. James R. O’Dell
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Victoria Street Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Richard O. Day

  2. 546 Dept. of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Piet L. C. M. van Riel

  3. Carl M.Pearson Professor of Rheumatology, 1000 Veteran Ave Rm 32-59, Los Angeles, CA, 90025-1670, USA

    Daniel E. Fürst

  4. Department of Rheumatology, St Vicent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Barry Bresnihan

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© 2005 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland

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Bird, K., O’Dell, J.R. (2005). Tetracyclines. In: Day, R.O., Fürst, D.E., van Riel, P.L.C.M., Bresnihan, B. (eds) Antirheumatic Therapy: Actions and Outcomes. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-7726-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-7726-7_12

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

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