Bhutta AQ, et al. - Physicians compared the effect of beta-blockers (BB) on survival and investigated the effect/predictors of beta-blockers discontinuation and reinitiation in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Among patients with cirrhosis and ascites (including those with refractory ascites), BB use was safe, provided beta-blockers were discontinued in the presence of a low mean arterial pressure (MAP) and reinitiated once MAP reincreases. They proposed a potentially beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of beta-blockers.