Fig. 1.

Study design and assessment schedule. A total of 323 patients with overt proteinuria (urinary protein/creatinine ratio [uPCR] ≥ 1 mg/mg) who visited the nephrology clinic at one of 11 tertiary hospitals in Korea between April 2009 and December 2011 was enrolled. Any drugs affecting the activity of the renin-angiotensin system were discontinued. The dosage of valsartan was increased after 8 weeks if the patient presented with a uPCR ≥ 1 mg/mg or blood pressure over 160/100 mmHg. The uPCR and renal function were also measured at 8 weeks and 24 weeks after enrollment for all patients