Treatment
proteinuria
All patients had received a stable dose of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy for a period of at least 3 months prior to budesonide initiation. The dose of ACEI/ARB was titrated to a maximum tolerated dose in order to achieve a target blood pressure (BP) of 125/75 mmHg or less and a proteinuria level below 0.5 g/day. In addition, the patients were advised on salt restriction, smoking and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent avoidance.Patients that after RAAS blockade initiation were considered to be at high-risk of progression were started on budesonide at a dose of 9 mg/day, for the first 12 months, followed by a subsequent dose reduction to 3 mg/day for the next 12 months. Budesonide (Budenofalk) is a controlled-release, gastro-resistant, pH-modified oral steroid formulation