[The patient with arthritis: care by both general practitioners and rheumatologists]

Early aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as TNF inhibitors prevents joint damage and improves the quality of life. There is increasing insight regarding the cardiovascular risks of patients suffering from RA or gout. These aspects and others are considered in this paper with respect to early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with arthritis, in particular RA or gout. In the Netherlands approximately 8900 general practitioners (GPs) and 230 rheumatologists, working in different settings (primary care and hospitals), are together responsible for the care of patients with arthritis. They must communicate and co-operate at a national, regional and local level to organize this care--the aim being to reach mutual agreement regarding the responsibility for each part of the diagnosis and management at each stage of the disease.