Minocycline in Acute Spinal Cord Injury (MASC)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 16 or over

• Acute traumatic non-penetrating cervical SCI involving neurological levels as definedby the ASIA neurological examination between C0 and C8 and resulting in a detectablechange in the ASIA motor assessment

• Patient English speaking and able to provide informed consent

• Randomization and administration of first dose (drug or placebo) within 12 hours ofinjury.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

• Pre-existing hepatic or renal disease

• Tetracycline hypersensitivity

• Pregnancy or breast feeding

• Isolated radicular motor deficit

• Significant leucopenia (white blood cell count < 1⁄2 times the lower limit of normal)at screening

• Elevated liver function tests (AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, or total bilirubin > 2times the upper limit of normal) at screening

• Presence of systemic disease that might interfere with patient safety, compliance orevaluation of the condition under study (e.g. insulin-dependent diabetes, Lymedisease, clinically significant cardiac disease, HIV, HTLV-1)

• Associated traumatic conditions interfering with informed consent or outcomeassessment (e.g. closed head injury, liver contusion)

• Known uncorrected severe coronary artery disease or evidence of active coronaryischemia (ECG changes, positive Troponin) will be excluded, as they may not toleratethe standardized protocol for hemodynamic management