D59.0

Billable

Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 46 — Severe Hematological Disorders

0.666

ESRDHCC 46 — Severe Hematological Disorders

0.000

RxHCCHCC 96 — Hemolytic and Aplastic Anemias

0.000

What This Code Means

Anemia caused by the body's immune system attacking red blood cells as a side effect of taking certain medications.

Coding Tips

•Always code the causative drug using an external cause code (T36-T50 series)
•Document the specific medication name and when the reaction began

Clinical Significance

Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia occurs when a medication triggers the immune system to produce antibodies that attack the patient's own red blood cells, causing accelerated hemolysis and anemia. Common causative drugs include methyldopa, penicillins, cephalosporins, quinidine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The mechanism may involve drug adsorption onto red blood cells, immune complex formation, or true autoantibody induction, and management centers on discontinuing the offending agent alongside supportive care.

Documentation Requirements

✓Document the specific causative medication by name with temporal relationship between drug exposure and symptom onset.
✓Record a positive direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test result differentiating autoimmune from non-autoimmune mechanisms.
✓Include hemoglobin values, reticulocyte count, hemolysis markers, and any transfusion requirements.
✓Use additional external cause codes (T36-T50) to identify the responsible drug.
✓Document resolution after drug discontinuation.

Use Additional Code

code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)

Commonly Confused Codes

D59.2 (Drug-induced nonautoimmune hemolytic anemia) involves direct toxic damage to red blood cells without immune mediation -differentiate by Coombs test results. D59.10-D59.19 (Autoimmune hemolytic anemia subtypes) are used when hemolysis is autoimmune but NOT drug-induced. D59.4 (Other nonautoimmune hemolytic anemias) covers non-immune, non-drug causes. D62 (Acute posthemorrhagic anemia) represents blood loss, not hemolysis.

Code Hierarchy

└D59Acquired hemolytic anemia └D59.0Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia

└D59.0Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia