Understand leukocytoclastic vasculitis diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. Find information on clinical documentation, ICD-10 codes (L95.0, L95.1, D69.0), SNOMED CT codes, and medical coding for accurate healthcare billing and reimbursement. Learn about skin biopsy, histopathology, purpura, palpable purpura, and differential diagnoses for effective patient care and optimal coding practices. Explore resources for healthcare professionals, including dermatologists, rheumatologists, and medical coders.
Also known as
Allergic purpura
Inflammation of small blood vessels often triggered by an allergic reaction.
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis
Chronic skin condition causing purplish spots, often on the lower legs.
Hypersensitivity angiitis
Inflammation of small blood vessels due to an exaggerated immune response.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the leukocytoclastic vasculitis caused by a drug?
Yes
Drug specified?
No
Associated with systemic disease?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Inflammation of small blood vessels in the skin |
| IgA-mediated vasculitis affecting skin, joints, GI, kidneys |
| Systemic vasculitis with granulomatous inflammation |
Coding LCV without specifying the cause (e.g., drug-induced, infection-related) leads to inaccurate data and potential DRG misassignment.
Lack of clear clinical documentation supporting LCV diagnosis (e.g., biopsy, symptoms) can cause claim denials and compliance issues.
Discrepancies between clinical notes, lab results, and coded diagnoses for LCV can raise red flags for audits and impact reimbursement.
Patient presents with complaints consistent with possible leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). Symptoms include palpable purpura, predominantly on the lower extremities, noted as small, raised, erythematous lesions. The patient also reports mild pruritus associated with the rash. Onset of symptoms was approximately one week ago, with gradual worsening. No fever, chills, or systemic symptoms are reported. Review of systems is otherwise unremarkable. Medical history includes hypertension, managed with lisinopril. No known drug allergies. Physical examination confirms the presence of palpable purpura, with no evidence of ulceration or necrosis. Differential diagnoses include Henoch-Schonlein purpura, drug-induced vasculitis, and other causes of cutaneous vasculitis. A skin biopsy is planned to confirm the diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis and evaluate the extent of vascular inflammation. Laboratory studies, including a complete blood count (CBC) with differential, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), urinalysis (UA), and inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), have been ordered. Depending on biopsy results and clinical presentation, treatment options may include conservative management with supportive care, topical corticosteroids, or systemic therapy with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants. Patient education provided regarding the condition, potential complications, and importance of follow-up care. ICD-10 code M31.8 (Other specified vasculitides) will be considered pending biopsy confirmation. Appropriate CPT codes for the skin biopsy and laboratory studies will be applied. Follow-up scheduled in one week to review biopsy results and discuss further management.