The objective of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is above all to prevent synovitis, to reduce pain, preserve function, improve the quality of life and reduce undesirable effects to a minimum. For evaluation of the necessity to start or stop treatment, its effectiveness or failure, various articular and complex indexes of the disease activity exist. In the submitted article is a review of articular indexes and indexes of the general activity of the disease. Contemporary recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) are emphasized and their differences are pointed out. The authors deal also with criteria for the evaluation of the response to therapy in clinical trials and clinical practice according to Paulus’ recommendation and that of the ACR valid today, and criteria of remission of the disease. Finally the authors draw attention to the necessity to introduce into clinical practice a system for evaluating the patient’s functional capacity.

        Key words: activity of rheumatoid arthritis, articular index, actual activity index, index of definite tissue damage, response to therapy