Drug-induced gout, unspecified site

This code signifies gout that has been triggered or exacerbated by a medication, without specifying the particular joint or body area affected. It represents an inflammatory arthritis characterized by the deposition of uric acid crystals, directly attributable to drug therapy.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of drug-induced gout but does not specify the anatomical site of the flare. This is appropriate when the physician explicitly links the gout to a pharmaceutical agent, such as diuretics or aspirin, without detailing the affected joint.

• Always sequence the drug-induced gout code first, followed by the external cause code (T36-T50 with a 5th or 6th character of 5) to identify the specific drug.
• Avoid using this code if the gout is clearly idiopathic or due to other secondary causes not related to medication.
• If the specific site of the drug-induced gout is documented (e.g., foot, knee), use the more specific site-specific drug-induced gout codes (M10.21-M10.29).