Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Minocycline in the Treatment of Autoimmune Encephalitis

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Autoimmune Encephalitis
• Interventions: Drug: Minocycline

• Registration Number: NCT06033846
• Lead Sponsor: Xijing Hospital

Brief Summary

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is an immune-mediated brain disorder characterized by varied clinical manifestations that correlate with specific types of antibodies.Typical symptoms include acute behavioral changes, psychosis, seizures, memory deficits, dyskinesias, speech impairments, and autonomic and respiratory dysregulation.While the majority of patients respond well to immunotherapeutic agents, a significant proportion remains resistant to initial and secondary-line immunotherapies.Minocycline, a semisynthetic tetracycline, is notably used for the central nervous system due to its lipophilic characteristics and its capacity to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. While the primary neuroprotective focus of minocycline in the central nervous system remains unknown, the primary effects of minocycline include the inhibition of microglial activation, mitigation of apoptosis, and reduction in reactive oxygen species generation.Protective effect has been observed in hypoxic injury, ischemic stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.Can minocycline offer a protective role in AE? Consequently, we proposed a randomized, controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of minocycline in AE.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-08-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-09-11
• Study First Posted: 2023-09-13
• Study Start: 2023-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-06-03
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study Completion: 2025-07-16
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosis of definite autoimmune encephalitis(Graus et al 2016.)
2. Age ≥ 18 years
3. Acute or subacute onset (rapid progression of less than 3 months)
4. Reasonable exclusion of alternative causes
5. Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Known allergy to tetracycline antibiotics.
2. Pregnant women.
3. Uncontrolled serious concomitant illness.
4. Known chronic kidney disease stages 3b-5.
5. Moderate liver disease (see Child-Pugh for Classification of Severity of Liver Disease).
6. history of cognitive impairment

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental: Treatment group	Minocycline	Drug: Minocyclin 200 mg oral minocycline for a total of 30 days

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Montreal-Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)scores	3 months	the change in MoCA scores from baseline to 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores	from baseline to months 1, 3, 6, and 12	change in MoCA scores from baseline to months 1, 3, 6, and 12
modified rankin scale (mRS) scores	1 month	The proportion of patients achieving a ≥1-point or ≥2-point improvement in mRS scores at 1 month
MoCA scores	from baseline to months 1, 6, and 12	change in MoCA scores from baseline to months 1, 6, and 12
Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) scores	from baseline to months 1, 3, 6, and 12	changes in HAMA scores from baseline to months 1, 3, 6, and 12
Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) scores	from baseline to months 1, 3, 6, and 12	changes in HAMA scores from baseline to months 1, 3, 6, and 12

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Xijing Hospital; 🇨🇳 Xi'an, China