Toxic liver disease with acute hepatitis

This code signifies liver damage characterized by inflammation of the liver parenchyma, specifically acute hepatitis, caused by exposure to a toxic substance. The liver injury is directly attributable to an exogenous agent, such as a drug, chemical, or herbal supplement, resulting in rapid onset of hepatic dysfunction.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates acute hepatitis resulting from a toxic etiology, such as drug-induced liver injury (DILI) or chemical exposure. Supporting documentation should specify the toxic agent if known, and confirm acute inflammation of the liver. This code is appropriate for cases of sudden onset liver inflammation directly linked to a toxic insult.

• Always sequence the external cause code (e.g., T36-T65 for poisoning by drugs/chemicals) after this code to identify the specific toxic agent.
• Distinguish from other forms of acute hepatitis (e.g., viral, autoimmune) where a toxic etiology is not the primary cause.
• Ensure documentation specifies "acute hepatitis" as opposed to chronic liver disease or other forms of toxic liver damage without acute inflammation.