Drug-induced chronic gout, left hand, without tophus (tophi)

This code signifies chronic gout affecting the left hand, specifically induced by medication, and without the presence of tophi. It indicates a persistent inflammatory arthritis resulting from hyperuricemia caused by drug therapy, manifesting in the joints of the left hand.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states chronic gout in the left hand, explicitly linked to a drug as the causative agent, and confirms the absence of tophaceous deposits. This is appropriate for patients experiencing ongoing symptoms of gout in the left hand due to medication, rather than acute flares or gout from other etiologies.

• Ensure the medical record specifies "drug-induced" and "chronic" gout, not just acute or unspecified.
• Verify the affected anatomical site is the "left hand" and rule out other locations.
• Confirm the absence of tophi; if tophi are present, a different code in the M1A.24 series would be appropriate.