[Medical treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis]

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis must be instituted as early as possible when the diagnosis is established. In the severe forms, a treatment by a trained team allowing pluridisciplinar coping is needed. The general practitioner takes an important place in this team. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis includes five points: information of patient, medico-psychological approach, local and general treatments, rehabilitation and sometimes surgery. Due to the heterogeneity of rheumatoid arthritis, the therapeutic strategy is adapted according to the evolution, the benefice/risk ratio and the prognostic factors.