Abstract
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis at earlier stages can significantly influence its later course. The current ACR-EULAR 2010 criteria make such an acceleration possible.
Immediately after determining the diagnosis, treatment should be commenced using disease-modifying drugs, usually methotrexate, after consulting the patient. The treatment should follow ""treat to target"" principles and it should be closely monitored, to achieve remission or at get the disease into low activity.
Achieving the therapeutic goal is necessary for long-term positive development of the functional condition and of morphological findings. If the treatment does not lead to fulfilling the therapeutic goal, then the therapy should be adjusted by using different disease-modifying synthetic treatment or by adding biological treatment in cases where the prognosis is negative, after evaluating their risks and benefits and consulting them with the patient.
Treatment usually begins with a TNF alpha blocker, in subsequent steps, drugs affecting inflammatory processes are added. Catching RA in a very early phase (within 3 months of it developing) in as many patients as possible should be the major goal of cooperation between rheumatologists and GPs.