The aim of this paper was to describe striking gender differences observed
between emesis and hiccups in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemothera
py (CT) and one of two dexamethasone-containing anti-emetic regimens. Four
hundred patients were evaluated in a crossover study with two arms. Patient
s in arm A received three doses of ondansetron 8 mg i.v. at 4-h intervals p
lus dexamethasone 20 mg i.v. from the start of CT, followed by dexamethason
e 5 mg i.v. every 12 h, until CT was complete, after which dexamethasone wa
s discontinued. For patients in arm B the treatment was the same as in arm
A except that the three doses of ondansetron 8 mg i.v. were given at 24-h i
ntervals. There were 363 patients in arm A and 358 patients in arm B. Vomit
ing/nausea/hiccups were observed in 30.3%/41.6%/ 23.7% of patients in arm A
and 28.8%/39.1%/23.7% of patients in arm B, respectively. Comparison showe
d that the rates for complete control of vomiting and nausea on days 1 thro
ugh 6 were significantly lower in women (P < 0.0001 and =0.0004 in arm A an
d P < 0.0001 and <0.0001 in arm B, respectively). Men had a significantly h
igher incidence of hiccups (P < 0.0001 in both arms), but no apparent assoc
iations with age, cisplatin dose, tumor type, and the presence of vomiting
and nausea during CT were found. Hiccups usually began 24 h after cisplatin
administration and persisted for some days. Women had significantly higher
rates of vomiting and nausea. The cause of the gender discrepancy is unkno
wn.