Chronic atrophic gastritis with bleeding

This code signifies a long-standing inflammation of the stomach lining characterized by glandular atrophy and a reduction in gastric acid production, accompanied by evidence of active or historical bleeding. The atrophy leads to thinning of the stomach wall, impairing its normal function. The bleeding component indicates a current or past hemorrhage directly attributable to the chronic atrophic gastritis.

Apply this code when documentation confirms chronic atrophic gastritis with any mention of bleeding, such as melena, hematemesis, or positive occult blood tests, directly linked to the gastric condition. This diagnosis is often supported by endoscopic findings showing mucosal atrophy and biopsies confirming chronic inflammation and glandular loss, alongside evidence of hemorrhage.

• Ensure documentation explicitly links the bleeding to the chronic atrophic gastritis; otherwise, code the bleeding separately if the cause is unknown or different.
• Do not use this code for acute gastritis with bleeding; differentiate between acute and chronic forms based on duration and histological findings.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis if it is the main reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if the bleeding is a complication of another primary condition.