Elevated liver enzymes diagnosis, causes, and treatment explained. Find information on liver function tests (LFTs), AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and bilirubin levels. Learn about ICD-10 codes for abnormal liver enzymes, clinical documentation improvement for liver disease, and healthcare resources for managing elevated liver enzymes. This resource covers differential diagnosis considerations and explores common causes such as fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, and medication-induced liver injury. Understand the importance of accurate medical coding and documentation for optimal patient care and reimbursement.
Also known as
Hepatomegaly and liver function abnormality
Abnormal liver size and/or function, including enzyme elevation.
Diseases of liver
Various liver diseases can cause elevated liver enzymes.
Abnormal findings on examination of blood chemistry
Includes abnormal liver enzyme levels found during blood tests.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is there a known cause for the elevated liver enzymes?
Yes
Is it due to alcohol use?
No
Code as R74.0, Abnormal findings on examination of blood chemistry.
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Increased Liver Enzymes |
| Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
| Alcoholic liver disease |
Coding elevated liver enzymes without documenting the cause (alcohol, medication, etc.) leads to unspecified codes and lost specificity.
Lack of sufficient clinical documentation to support the severity or type of liver enzyme elevation can cause coding errors and denials.
Coding elevated liver enzymes as a definitive diagnosis without confirmatory testing or further investigation may be inaccurate and non-compliant.
Patient presents with elevated liver enzymes, prompting evaluation for underlying causes. Symptoms, if present, may include fatigue, abdominal pain, right upper quadrant discomfort, nausea, jaundice, or pruritus. Physical exam findings may reveal hepatomegaly or splenomegaly. Laboratory results demonstrate elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), andor gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Differential diagnosis includes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, hepatitis C), drug-induced liver injury, autoimmune hepatitis, biliary obstruction, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Initial workup includes a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), complete blood count (CBC), hepatitis panel, and imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI of the abdomen. Further investigation may involve liver biopsy, MRCP, or ERCP depending on clinical suspicion. Treatment plan focuses on addressing the underlying cause of the elevated liver enzymes. Patient education emphasizes lifestyle modifications including weight loss, dietary changes, and alcohol cessation as appropriate. Follow-up liver function tests will be monitored to assess response to treatment and disease progression. ICD-10 codes such as R74.0, K73.9, or K76.9 may be applicable depending on the etiology. CPT codes for laboratory tests and imaging studies will be billed accordingly.