[Monitoring disease activity, adjustment of conventional treatment and prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis].

In the past decade treatment strategies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis have changed dramatically. Patients are being treated earlier and more aggressively than in the past, and far more therapeutic options are available, which has increased the complexity of the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The processes have had an influence on the outcome of patients with RA and on the way they are being evaluated. Disease course should regularly be evaluated with both process (i.e. erythrocyte sedimentation rate, joint counts) and outcome measures (i.e. radiological progression). For the evaluation of interventions, 'core sets' of valid measures to assess disease activity and outcome and specific criteria for improvement should be used. "Tight control" of patients with rheumatoid arthritis will enable us to adjust the therapy and to achieve the ultimate goals, remission and less disability.