[Expert assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disease of the locomotor system associated with early loss of function and joint destruction. A relevant number of patients with RA withdraw from employment within the first years. To give a medical opinion on patients with RA regarding ability for work requires thorough knowledge of the disease, its characteristic deformities and prognostic indicators as well as knowledge of the essential examinations and instruments for the estimation of functioning and disability.