ICD-10-CM E51.2 is the diagnosis code for Wernicke's encephalopathy. This code falls under the section "Other nutritional deficiencies" within Chapter 4 — Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E89). It is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.
Always refer to the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List for complete coding guidelines. Ensure documentation supports the specificity of the code selected. When in doubt, consult a certified medical coder or the latest CMS guidelines.
Understanding where E51.2 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:
Yes, E51.2 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
E51.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Wernicke's encephalopathy". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.
The parent code of E51.2 is E51 ("Thiamine deficiency"). E51.2 provides a more specific classification within this category.
E51.2 is located in Section E50-E64 — "Other nutritional deficiencies" within Chapter 4 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Use E51.2 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Wernicke's encephalopathy" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.
The ICD-10-CM code for Wernicke's encephalopathy is E51.2.
Yes, E51.2 can be used as a primary diagnosis code since it is billable and specific.
E51.2 is in Chapter 4 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Yes, E51.2 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.