Congenital renal artery stenosis

This diagnosis code signifies a narrowing of the renal artery that is present at birth. This congenital anomaly can impede blood flow to the kidney, potentially leading to hypertension, renal dysfunction, or kidney atrophy. It represents a structural defect in the arterial supply to the kidney.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of congenital renal artery stenosis. This typically arises from imaging studies such as renal angiography, Doppler ultrasound, or MRA, confirming the presence of a narrowed renal artery from birth. Use this code to specify the congenital origin of the stenosis.

• Differentiate from acquired renal artery stenosis (e.g., due to atherosclerosis) which would use different I70.1 codes.
• Always review imaging reports and physician notes for explicit mention of "congenital" to support this code.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis if it is the main reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if it is a co-morbidity impacting treatment.