A peptide hormone causing abnormal hair-growth associated with malignancy.

The purpose of this article is to show that abnormal hair-growth associated with malignancy (acquired hypertrichosis) is probably caused by a peptide hormone which remains to be detected by examining serum, skin, and tumour specimens of affected patients. The condition was first described in 1865, and the whole literature between 1879 and 1994 is reviewed in Index Medicus and Medline. The hypothesis that a peptide hormone is the cause is supported by the condition's rapid onset, remission with tumour removal, electronmicroscopical appearance of specimens, and results in the experimental model macaque.