A51.45

What This Code Means

This is liver inflammation caused by syphilis that develops during the secondary stage of the infection, typically occurring weeks to months after the initial infection. It represents the body's systemic response to the syphilis bacteria affecting the liver.

Coding Tips

• •Verify that the hepatitis is specifically documented as secondary syphilitic hepatitis in the medical record; do not assume liver involvement without explicit documentation
• •Ensure the primary syphilis diagnosis code (A51.x) is also coded to capture the complete clinical picture, as this code represents a manifestation of secondary syphilis