Secondary syphilitic hepatitis

This code describes inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) that occurs as a manifestation of secondary syphilis. Secondary syphilis is a systemic stage of the infection characterized by widespread dissemination of the spirochete, Treponema pallidum, often presenting with mucocutaneous lesions and systemic symptoms, including hepatic involvement.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states "secondary syphilitic hepatitis" or "hepatitis due to secondary syphilis." Supporting documentation should confirm a diagnosis of secondary syphilis and evidence of liver involvement, such as elevated liver enzymes or imaging findings consistent with hepatitis.

• Always confirm the stage of syphilis (primary, secondary, latent, tertiary) as this impacts the correct code assignment.
• Do not confuse with congenital syphilis with hepatitis (P90) or other forms of infectious hepatitis.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when the hepatitis is the main reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if another condition is being treated and the hepatitis is a co-morbidity.