Polycythemia ICD 10 code tips for Coders

Basics of Polycythemia ICD 10 code

Polycythemia vera is an abnormal increase in blood cells—primarily red blood cells—due to excess production by the bone marrow. This acquired disorder of the bone marrow may also cause overproduction of white blood cells and platelets.

ICD-10 code D45 for Polycythemia vera is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range – Neoplasms .

D45 Polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera is a rare disease that occurs more frequently in men than women, and rarely in patients under age 40. The exact cause is unknown.

Types/Stages
The two basic categories of polycythemia are primary polycythemias and secondary polycythemias:

• Primary polycythemias: These are due to factors intrinsic to red cell precursors and include the diagnoses of primary familial and congenital polycythemia and polycythemia vera.
• Secondary polycythemias: These are caused by factors extrinsic to red cell precursors.
• A myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by abnormal proliferation of all hematopoietic bone marrow elements and an absolute increase in red cell mass and total blood volume, associated frequently with splenomegaly, leukocytosis, and thrombocythemia. Hematopoiesis is also reactive in extramedullary sites (liver and spleen). In time myelofibrosis occurs.
• Myeloproliferative disorder characterized by abnormal proliferation of all hematopoietic bone marrow elements and an absolute increase in red cell mass and total blood volume; associated frequently with splenomegaly, leukocytosis, and thrombocythemia.

Related Synonyms for ICD 10 code for Polycythemia Vera

• Chronic erythremia in relapse
• Leukemia, erythremia, chronic, in remission
• Polycythemia vera (clinical)
• Polycythemia vera in relapse
• Polycythemia vera in remission

Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of polycythemia vera include the following:

• Difficulty breathing when lying down
• Dizziness
• Fullness in the left upper abdomen
• Headache
• Itchiness, especially following a warm bath
• Red coloration, especially of the face
• Shortness of breath
• Symptoms of phlebitis (due to increased blood thickness and clotting)
• Bluish skin discoloration
• Fatigue
• Skin spots
• Vision problems

Treatment
Polycythemia vera is incurable, so treatment focuses on decreasing the patient’s blood cell count. Some treatment options include:

• Phlebotomy to reduce the patient’s blood cell numbers and blood volume
• Medication to stop the patient’s bone marrow from producing red blood cells
• Therapy to reduce itching

Documentation and coding

ICD-10-CM Coding

• Polycythemia vera, report code D45