E71.448

Billable

Other secondary carnitine deficiency

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 23 — Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

0.230

ESRDHCC 23 — Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

0.000

RxHCCHCC 43 — Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

0.000

What This Code Means

A condition where the body doesn't have enough carnitine, a substance needed to break down fats for energy, due to secondary causes such as kidney disease or certain medications.

Coding Tips

•Identify and document the underlying cause of carnitine deficiency (e.g., chronic kidney disease, medication-induced) as this affects treatment approach
•Distinguish from primary carnitine deficiency (E71.40) which is genetic; secondary deficiency results from other medical conditions

Clinical Significance

Other secondary carnitine deficiency encompasses acquired carnitine depletion from non-iatrogenic and non-genetic causes, including chronic kidney disease with renal carnitine wasting, malabsorption syndromes, inadequate dietary intake, or organic acid excretion disorders. Carnitine depletion can compound the effects of the underlying condition, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, and metabolic dysfunction. Identifying and treating the underlying cause alongside carnitine supplementation is essential.

Documentation Requirements

✓Document the underlying cause of secondary carnitine deficiency, plasma carnitine levels (free and total), clinical symptoms attributable to carnitine depletion, and carnitine supplementation regimen.
✓Record the primary condition causing the deficiency and its current management status.

Commonly Confused Codes

E71.43 (Iatrogenic carnitine deficiency) when the cause is medication or treatment-related E71.42 (Carnitine deficiency due to inborn errors of metabolism) when the cause is another genetic metabolic disorder E71.41 (Primary carnitine deficiency) for genetic carnitine transporter defects.

Code Hierarchy

└E71Disorders of branched-chain amino-acid metabolism and fatty-acid metabolism └E71.4Disorders of carnitine metabolism └E71.44Other secondary carnitine deficiency └E71.448Other secondary carnitine deficiency

└E71.448Other secondary carnitine deficiency