Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory arthritis, and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Primary care providers should be able to distinguish the clinical presentation of rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis, because the treatment and outcomes differ greatly between these 2 common forms of arthritis. This article provides a current overview of our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis, with an emphasis on early diagnosis and approaches to treatment.