Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of the connective tissue with predominant damage to small joints in the form of erosive-destructive polyarthritis of unknown etiology with complex autoimmune pathogenesis. The disease is characterised by a high degree of early onset disability. The main causes of death from the disease are infectious complications and renal failure. Rheumatoid arthritis is often accompanied by other joint diseases - osteoarthritis, rheumatism, and systemic connective tissue diseases. Maintaining maximum joint mobility and muscle mass during treatment is crucial.