Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder of unknown cause characterized by polyarthritis resulting in the structural joint damage and disability. Damage can be prevented when the disease is early diagnosed (with application of classification 2010 criteria) and as early as possible therapy with disease-modified antirheumatic drugs is applied. It is recommended to evaluate risk factors of rapid progress of the disease, activity of the disease (achievement of remission) and adverse reaction of the medication during the treatment. Proper management of the disease allows good quality of life in majority of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.