Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Question: A patient presents to the office for help, complaining of disturbing gastrointestinal symptoms since childhood. The gastroenterologist ran some tests and discovered the real problem: celiac disease (gluten enteropathy). How should I code this diagnosis? Tell me more about this disease.

Kentucky Subscriber

Answer: If a patient is diagnosed with Celiac disease, you would report it as 579.0. This disease is an allergy to gluten, which means that if you have the disease and you eat foods with gluten, your immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye and barley.

Although Celiac disease affects each patient differently, typical symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, irritability, and depression. Blood tests can help the physician diagnose the disease. She may also need to examine a small piece of tissue from the patient's small intestine. As treatment, the physician would usually advise the patient to maintain a diet free of gluten.