[Early-stage polyarthritis].

Prodromes, articular signs and the different courses in the early stage of rheumatoid arthritis are explained. Atypical forms and variants of rheumatoid arthritis are especially described. These are the following syndromes: palindromic rheumatism, polymyalgic rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren-syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis, acute symmetric polyarthritis with pitting edema of elderly people. Furthermore the significance of radiological procedures and the investigation for rheumatoid factors in the early stages are discussed. Early diagnosis and consecutively early therapeutic strategies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are of paramount importance for prognosis.