**6. Conclusions**

Despite the advances in liver transplantation, the results in patients with HCV infection are not as satisfactory as desired, due mainly to the recurrence of the primary disease and the lack of availability of an efficient prophylactic therapy. Likewise, antiviral therapy still presents important limitations, particularly its poor tolerance, which hinders its use at full doses or for a sufficient duration to achieve an adequate response. The most recommended attitude is to attempt antiviral therapy prior to the transplant, particularly for those patients with maintained liver function, in an attempt to avoid disease progression, though if this is not possible, at least reach transplantation with a negative viraemia. Strict monitoring of the progression of the fibrosis by serial biopsies and/or elastography will enable early identification of those patients who might benefit from antiviral therapy to detain the advance of the disease and thus avoid the possible need for a retransplant. Nevertheless, new therapeutic approaches are required for the treatment of hepatitis C infection that can obviate the need for liver transplantation. For this, the introduction of protease and polymerase inhibitors is opening up hope for the future treatment of this disease.
