[Apoptosis--from theory to practice].

Apoptosis-programmed cell death--is a process which has long been neglected in clinical thinking. Now we realize that it offers an understanding of a number of pathological conditions which otherwise cannot be explained. Moreover the analysis of the highly specific mechanisms of programmed cell death might aid in the development of new treatment strategies. In this paper we give the examples of the importance of apoptosis in the selected fields of clinical medicine. The knowledge of apoptosis in oncology, cardiology, endocrine diseases and others has achieved the level which enables its practical use. This is why we believe that apoptosis should attract attention of clinical practitioners.