Rheumatic chorea with heart involvement

This code signifies a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, jerky movements (chorea) that occurs as a manifestation of acute rheumatic fever, specifically when there is concurrent inflammation or damage to the heart. It indicates that the rheumatic process has affected both the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of rheumatic chorea and explicitly mentions any form of cardiac involvement, such as carditis, valvulitis, or other heart complications directly attributable to the rheumatic process. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing the choreiform movements and findings from cardiac examinations (e.g., echocardiogram, auscultation) confirming heart involvement.

• Always ensure documentation explicitly links the chorea to rheumatic fever and confirms heart involvement; otherwise, consider separate codes for chorea and rheumatic heart disease.
• Do not use this code for chorea due to other causes (e.g., Huntington's disease, drug-induced chorea) or for rheumatic fever without chorea.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when the rheumatic chorea with heart involvement is the principal reason for the encounter.