The Effect of Everolimus Initiation and Early Calcineurin Inhibitor Withdrawal on Exercise Capacity in De-Novo Heart Transplant Recipients: Results of the Schedule Trial after 36 Months

Heart transplant (HTx) recipients have reduced exercise capacity and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) is often found to be 50-70% of the predicted value. Both reduced cardiac output and peripheral factors might contribute to this reduction and there is little data on the potential influence of different immunosuppressive regimes. Hence, the purpose of the current sub-study of the SCHEDULE trial was to evaluate the effect of everolimus initiation and total early cyclosporine elimination on exercise capacity in de-novo HTx recipients.