Cirrhosis of liver without mention of alcohol

This code signifies the presence of end-stage liver disease characterized by irreversible scarring and impaired liver function, where alcohol consumption is not identified as the underlying cause. It represents chronic liver damage leading to fibrosis, nodule formation, and ultimately liver failure.

This code is appropriate when a patient has a documented diagnosis of cirrhosis, and the medical record explicitly states or strongly implies that alcohol is not the etiology. This includes cases of cryptogenic cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, viral hepatitis (non-alcoholic), or metabolic liver diseases leading to cirrhosis.

• Ensure documentation clearly excludes alcohol as the cause; otherwise, a more specific alcoholic cirrhosis code may be appropriate.
• Always code the underlying cause of the cirrhosis (e.g., viral hepatitis, autoimmune disease) as a primary diagnosis if known and documented.
• Do not use this code if the documentation indicates even a history of alcohol abuse contributing to liver damage, even if not the sole cause.