Rheu heart disease w rheumatoid arthritis of right knee

This code signifies a patient diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis that has manifested with cardiac involvement, specifically affecting the heart valves or myocardium, concurrently with inflammatory arthritis of the right knee. It indicates a systemic autoimmune disorder impacting both articular and extra-articular systems.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of rheumatoid heart disease in a patient also suffering from rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee. Supporting documentation should include physician notes detailing both the cardiac manifestations (e.g., pericarditis, myocarditis, valvulitis) and the specific joint involvement.

• Always code the underlying rheumatoid arthritis first, followed by the specific manifestations.
• Ensure documentation specifies "rheumatoid heart disease" and not just general cardiac issues, as well as the laterality of the knee involvement.
• Do not use this code if the cardiac involvement is not explicitly stated as rheumatoid in origin.