ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for chronic nephritis
Chronic nephritic syndrome with unspecified morphologic changes
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Nephritis, nephritic (albuminuric) (azotemic) (congenital) (disseminated) (epithelial) (familial) (focal) (granulomatous) (hemorrhagic) (infantile) (nonsuppurative, excretory) (uremic) › chronic”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding chronic nephritis
The ICD-10-CM code for chronic nephritis is N03.9 (Chronic nephritic syndrome with unspecified morphologic changes). The official index lists 12 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on N03.9.
Within N03, choose N03.9 (with unspecified morphologic changes) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: with minor glomerular abnormality (N03.0), with focal and segmental glomerular lesions (N03.1), with diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis (N03.2), with diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (N03.3), with diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (N03.4), with diffuse mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (N03.5), with dense deposit disease (N03.6), with diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis (N03.7) and 2 more.
As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 698 (Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 1.6398), DRG 699 (Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 1.0003) and DRG 700 (Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6741), in MDC 11 (Diseases and Disorders of the Kidney and Urinary Tract), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
More specific chronic nephritis codes (official index)
- with
- C3
- glomerulonephritis N03.A — Chronic nephritic syndrome with C3 glomerulonephritis
- glomerulopathy N03.A — Chronic nephritic syndrome with C3 glomerulonephritis
- with dense deposit disease N03.6 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with dense deposit disease
- dense deposit disease N03.6 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with dense deposit disease
- diffuse
- crescentic glomerulonephritis N03.7 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis
- endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis N03.4 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis
- membranous glomerulonephritis N03.2 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis
- mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis N03.3 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis
- mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis N03.5 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with diffuse mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis
- focal and segmental glomerular lesions N03.1 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with focal and segmental glomerular lesions
- minor glomerular abnormality N03.0 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with minor glomerular abnormality
- specified morphological changes NEC N03.8 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes
- arteriosclerotic
Common questions about chronic nephritis ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for chronic nephritis?
- N03.9 — Chronic nephritic syndrome with unspecified morphologic changes. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: N03.A, N03.A, N03.6, N03.6 and others below.
Is N03.9 billable?
- Yes. N03.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can N03.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict N03.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is N03.9 a CC or MCC?
- N03.9 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.