I75.81
BillableAtheroembolism of kidney
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 264 — Vascular Disease with Complications
0.356V24HCC 107 — Vascular Disease with Complications
0.450ESRDHCC 107 — Vascular Disease with Complications
0.000What This Code Means
Cholesterol crystals or plaque fragments break loose from arteries and lodge in the blood vessels of the kidney, potentially affecting kidney function.
Coding Tips
- •Document any associated acute kidney injury or renal function changes
- •May be discovered incidentally during imaging or when renal function declines
Clinical Significance
Atheroembolism of the kidney (renal cholesterol embolism) is a serious complication that can cause progressive renal failure, often mimicking other causes of acute kidney injury. It typically occurs after vascular procedures or anticoagulation initiation and may be underdiagnosed. This condition indicates severe systemic atherosclerotic disease and carries significant implications for renal function and overall prognosis.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of renal atheroembolism or cholesterol embolism to the kidney
- ✓Renal function parameters (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate) before and after the event
- ✓Precipitating event (aortic procedure, catheterization, anticoagulation)
- ✓Supportive laboratory findings (eosinophilia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, low complement)
- ✓Biopsy findings if performed (cholesterol clefts in renal vasculature)
- ✓Renal replacement therapy requirements if applicable
Use Additional Code
Commonly Confused Codes
I75.89 — Atheroembolism of other site: for non-renal, non-extremity atheroembolismN17.x — Acute kidney failure: may coexist but does not capture the atheroembolism etiologyI75.021-I75.029 — Atheroembolism of lower extremity: different target organN28.0 — Ischemia and infarction of kidney: different etiology than cholesterol embolism
Code Hierarchy
└I75Atheroembolism└I75.8Atheroembolism of other sites└I75.81Atheroembolism of kidney
└I75.81Atheroembolism of kidney