WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Dr. Miaad Mezher Radhi and Dr. Thuraya Hussamuldeen

ABSTRACT

Background: Ectopic pregnancies have increased in recent years, with morbidity and mortality being known.Early diagnosis is crucial to avoid complications, and changes in copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio are associatedwith various gynaecological and obstetrical disorders. Aim: To evaluate the role of serum copper, zinc,copper/zinc ratio, and progesterone as a biomarker for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Patients andMethods: Beginning on January 1, 2022, and ending on January 1, 2023, a case-control research was carried out.Two groups of one hundered pregnant women were selected for the present study and admitted to the Departmentof Gynecology and Obstetrics at Al-Emamain Al-Kadhymain Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq. The control groupcomprised 50 pregnant women in good health, while the study group comprised 50 pregnant women whopresented with an ectopic pregnancy. Results: The research groups differed significantly in terms of progesteronelevels, copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio (all P-values were less than 0.001). The optimal cut-off values forectopic pregnancy diagnosis were 1.2 for the copper/zinc ratio, 70 μg/dL for zinc, and 76 μg/dL for copper. Thecut-off points showed that the copper/zinc ratio has an 82% sensitivity and a 76% specificity in diagnosing ectopicpregnancy. Conclusion: Ectopic pregnancy patients show decreased copper levels, increased zinc levels, and adecreased copper/zinc ratio, making these non-invasive tests useful for diagnosis.