Another type of biliary cirrhosis also may occur after a patient has gallbladder surgery in which the bile ducts are injured or tied off. Other, less common, causes of cirrhosis are severe reactions to prescribed drugs, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, and repeated bouts of heart failure with liver congestion. People with cirrhosis often have few symptoms at first. The two major problems that eventually cause symptoms are loss of functioning liver cells and distortion of the liver caused by scarring. The person may experience fatigue, weakness, and exhaustion.
Loss of appetite is usual, often with nausea and weight loss.
As liver function declines, less protein is made by the organ. A decrease in proteins needed for blood clotting makes it easy for the person to bruise or to bleed easily. Some people with cirrhosis experience intense itching due to bile products that are deposited in the skin. Gallstones often form in persons with cirrhosis because not enough bile reaches the gallbladder. The liver of a person with cirrhosis also has trouble removing toxins, which may build up in the blood.