title: Gender discrepancy observed between chemotherapy-induced emesis and hiccups.
abstract: The aim of this paper was to describe striking gender differences observed between emesis and hiccups in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CT) and one of two dexamethasone-containing anti-emetic regimens. Four hundred patients were evaluated in a crossover study with two arms. Patients in arm A received three doses of ondansetron 8 mg i.v. at 4-h intervals plus dexamethasone 20 mg i.v. from the start of CT, followed by dexamethasone 5 mg i.v. every 12 h, until CT was complete, after which dexamethasone was 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 intervals. There were 363 patients in arm A and 358 patients in arm B. Vomiting/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 showed that the rates for complete control of vomiting and nausea on days 1 through 6 were significantly lower in women (P<0.0001 and =0.0004 in arm A and P<0.0001 and <0.0001 in arm B, respectively). Men had a significantly higher incidence of hiccups (P<0.0001 in both arms), but no apparent associations 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 unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang-Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan. e102309@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liau
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006606:Hiccup / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012737:Sex Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017294:Ondansetron; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002945:Cisplatin