Rheumatoid arthritis: Diagnose early and treat to target

New treatments have multiplied in the last three decades that improve rheumatologists' capabilities for altering and even controlling RA. More recently, we have recognized that new approaches to providing these discoveries will also be required if RA patients are to realize their benefits, including: Early diagnosis and early treatment, Sensitive and practical RA disease activity measurements to direct treatment, Accelerating treatment until inflammation in the joints and other tissues is controlled, known in our field as Treating to Target, and Providing personalized patient care, because RA is variable from one patient to another. Not only do responses to treatment and side effects vary, but patients differ in their preferences and priorities for disease management.