Alcoholic liver disease (K70)

ICD-10 code K70 covers the range of conditions known collectively as alcoholic liver disease, encompassing various stages and complications caused by excessive alcohol use. These codes are used to identify specific forms of liver damage directly attributable to alcohol consumption.

This code section includes K70.0 for alcoholic fatty liver, sometimes called Zieve's syndrome, which refers to fat accumulation in liver cells due to alcohol. K70.1 and its subcategories identify alcoholic hepatitis, inflammation of the liver caused by alcohol, notable with or without ascites (fluid buildup). The fibrosis and scarring stage are coded under K70.2, linked to terms like hepatic sclerosis or fibrosis caused by alcohol. More severe damage, such as alcoholic cirrhosis, is detailed under K70.3 with specifications for presence or absence of ascites. Acute liver failure resulting from alcohol is covered by K70.4, including cases with coma (hepatic coma). Finally, K70.9 is used when alcoholic liver disease lacks further specification, often involving complications like bleeding esophageal varices. These codes assist healthcare professionals and coders in pinpointing the exact diagnosis related to alcohol-induced liver damage for accurate medical records and treatment planning.