[Elements of diagnosis in rheumatology. "Early" diagnosis in flight personnel].

The various stages in the diagnostic process are discussed with particular reference to rheumatology. Consideration is given to recent "early" and "preclinical" diagnosis concepts, and these are applied to the aircrew category. The main "rheumatological emergencies" are listed and described for the purposes of that "specialised" prevention constantly needed to a greater extent, not only in the complex, demanding activity of aircrew, but also in the wider "world of labour", as currently conceived.