[Rheumatoid arthritis. Target outcome for treatment].

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disabling disease that results in considerable loss of physical function in patients over time. The ultimate goal of therapy is remission, a clinical state with a highly variable definition in the literature. For the purpose of achieving the best patient outcome, it is important to maintain the lowest possible disease activity. Therefore, stringent remission criteria should be chosen, which will lead to the best possible prevention of structural and functional decline. Standardised intensive therapeutic strategies and algorithms should form the basis for the administration of anti-rheumatic medication.