Toxemic shock, hematuria, hypokalemia, and hypoproteinemia in a case of cutaneous anthrax.

A 20-year-old woman who had daily contact with domestic herbivores presented with a painless and pruritic lesion in her neck; the lesion ulcerated to a black necrotic eschar from which Bacillus anthracis grew. Rapidly expanding edema at the site of the ulcer was followed by shock, hematuria, hypokalemia, and hypoproteinemia. The latter symptoms - unusual for cutaneous anthrax - responded to intravenous penicillin therapy.