Minocycline in Patients With Huntington's Disease

Inclusion criteria: Clinical features of Huntington's disease (HD) and a confirmatory family history of HD and/or a CAG repeat expansion of at least 37 Stage I, II, or III of illness (TFC greater than or equal to 5) Ambulatory and not requiring skilled nursing care Patients must use effective birth control Concurrent psychotropic medications must be at stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study WBC count at least 3,800/mm3 Creatinine no greater than 2.0 Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Exclusion criteria: Prior minocycline use within 2 months of baseline visit History of known sensitivity or intolerability to minocycline or any other tetracycline History of vestibular disease Use of any investigational drug within 30 days of baseline visit Treatment with any drug that may cause lupus-like symptoms (e.g., procainamide or hydralazine) within 4 weeks of baseline visit Pregnant or nursing Underlying hematologic, hepatic, or renal disease Evidence of unstable medical illness Illness that requires use of coumadin Unstable psychiatric illness defined as psychosis (hallucinations or delusions), untreated major depression within 90 days of baseline visit, or suicidal ideation Substance (alcohol or drug) abuse within 1 year of baseline visit History of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) or a history of SLE in a first-degree relative Positive ANA screening (at or above 1:80)