On June the 3^rd, 2023, the annual European Congress of Rheumatology – EULAR 2023 – came to its conclusion. Milan hosted over 12,400 delegates from more than 130 countries. Not only were the participants able to listen to exciting lectures presenting new scientific and clinical achievements, but they also could take part in workshops and direct meetings with experts, publishers, representatives of patient organizations and patients themselves. This gave the attendees an opportunity to establish new scientific and social contacts, meeting – outside the realm of the online world – members of e.g. the European Reference Network (ERN) for rare diseases. As always, the presentation of new EULAR recommendations and the discussion on the possibilities of rheumatological diagnostics were particularly expected. The abstracts presented at the conference (oral, poster and published) were included in a 2243-page book (EULAR 2023 – Abstract archive).

Prof. Maurizo Cutolo (left; Research Laboratory and Academic Unit of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy), Prof. Eugeniusz J. Kucharz (right), and Prof. Przemysław Kotyla (middle)

Among the Polish group of participants, Mariusz Korkosz (Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow) presented his lecture on D2T axial spondyloarthritis. Matylda Sierakowska (Department of Integrated Medical Care, Medical University of Bialystok) was designated to the EULAR HPR Committee and Przemysław Kotyla (Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland) to the Quality of Care Committee.

Prof. Matylda Sierakowska

Prof. Mariusz Korkosz

The congress was proceeded by some nice events. On 30 May in rooms of the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci the 20^th anniversary of EUSTAR celebration was held. This also gave the opportunity to underline some Polish accents in the work of this very dynamically growing research group. With the pivotal role of Prof. Otylia Kowal-Bielecka (Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland) as the leader of the recommendation-working group, as well as the previous contribution of Polish rheumatological centers to the final shape of EUSTAR Database Polish rheumatological centers, are still recognizable players in the field of scleroderma. Three Polish rheumatologists – Prof. Eugeniusz J. Kucharz (Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland), Dr Anna Kotulska-Kucharz (Katowice) and Prof. Przemysław Kotyla represented the Polish rheumatologists working with EUSTAR. Maria Maślińska (Early Arthritis Clinic, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland) represented “Reumatologia” – the journal of Polish rheumatologists and was a special guest of EULAR Executive Director Dr Julia Rautenstrauch.

EULAR Executive Director Dr Julia Rautenstrauch (right) and Dr Maria Maślińska

Prof. Gabirella Szűcs and Dr Maria Maślińska

Prof. Armen Gasparyan and Dr Maria Maślińska

Prof. László Czirják and Dr Maria Maślińska

Summing up, the annual EULAR congress was – as always – an excellent occasion for all its participants to broaden their knowledge, present scientific achievements and establish new scientific contacts.