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2025 ICD-10-CM code D53

Other nutritional anemias. Includes: megaloblastic anemia unresponsive to vitamin B12 or folate therapy.

Use additional codes to specify any underlying conditions contributing to the nutritional anemia. Ensure the documentation clearly differentiates D53 from other specific nutritional anemias like iron deficiency (D50) or other B12 deficiency anemias (D51) and other folate deficiency anemias (D52).

Medical necessity for the treatment of D53 is established by documenting the specific nutritional deficiency, its severity, and its impact on the patient's health. It should be clear that the anemia is a direct result of the deficiency, and not due to other underlying medical conditions.

Clinicians diagnose nutritional anemia based on patient history, physical examination, and symptoms such as weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations, pale skin, hair thinning, numbness in extremities, and unusual cravings. Laboratory tests like complete blood count (CBC), reticulocyte count, peripheral smear, serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin levels are used to confirm the diagnosis and determine the specific deficiency.

In simple words: This code refers to other types of anemia caused by nutritional deficiencies, such as not getting enough iron, vitamins, or minerals from your diet.It includes a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia that doesn't improve even after taking vitamin B12 or folate supplements.

This code represents other nutritional anemias, including megaloblastic anemia that doesn't respond to vitamin B12 or folate therapy. Nutritional anemia is a condition characterized by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin due to insufficient intake or absorption of essential nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, folate, and other vitamins and minerals crucial for red blood cell production.

Example 1: A 25-year-old pregnant woman presents with fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath. Blood tests reveal low hemoglobin and red blood cell count unresponsive to iron supplementation, and further investigation reveals a combined deficiency of iron and vitamin B12, leading to a diagnosis of D53., A 60-year-old patient with a history of Crohn's disease experiences persistent fatigue and weakness. Lab results indicate megaloblastic anemia that doesn't improve with B12 or folate supplements, and malabsorption due to Crohn's is identified as the underlying cause, fitting D53., A 3-year-old child from a low-income family with a limited diet presents with failure to thrive and developmental delays. Blood tests reveal low hemoglobin, small red blood cells, and normal iron levels, leading to a diagnosis of D53 due to a combined deficiency of copper and protein.

Documentation should include evidence of nutritional deficiency through dietary history, laboratory findings (CBC, iron studies, vitamin levels), and other relevant clinical findings such as pallor, fatigue, and shortness of breath. It should also specify the type of nutritional deficiency and any underlying conditions contributing to it.

** This code excludes conditions like autoimmune diseases (M35.9), perinatal conditions (P00-P96), pregnancy complications (O00-O9A), congenital anomalies (Q00-Q99), endocrine disorders (E00-E88), HIV (B20), injuries (S00-T88), and neoplasms (C00-D49).For accurate coding, consider using more specific codes if available, such as those identifying combined nutritional deficiencies.

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