Rheumatic fever without heart involvement

This code describes acute rheumatic fever affecting various body systems, such as joints, skin, or nervous system, but specifically without any documented cardiac involvement. It signifies the inflammatory response to a Group A Streptococcus infection that has manifested in non-cardiac ways.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of acute or subacute rheumatic fever and explicitly rules out any cardiac manifestations. This is appropriate for patients presenting with migratory polyarthritis, chorea, erythema marginatum, or subcutaneous nodules in the context of recent streptococcal infection, where echocardiography or clinical assessment confirms no carditis.

• Always review documentation for any mention of cardiac involvement, even subtle findings, as this would necessitate a code from the I01 series.
• Do not use this code if the patient has a history of rheumatic heart disease, even if the current episode of rheumatic fever does not involve the heart.
• Ensure supporting documentation specifies "without heart involvement" or similar phrasing to justify its use.