en سم شناسی Toxicology پژوهشي Original Research <p>Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of a fetus or embryo from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. Missed abortion is the most common dangerous condition in pregnancy. An abortion can occur due to maternal complications, chronic disease, endocrine disorders, abortificient drugs, radiation, heavy metals and toxins. The study population consisted of 43 aborted patients and 43 normal pregnant females, referred to Imam Khomeini hospital. 10 mL blood was taken and centrifuged to isolate the patients&rsquo; serum. Then, the samples were analyzed to determine the copper and selenium levels, using atomic absorption spectrometry. All data were statistically analyzed by T-test and Mann-Whitney methods. As a result, we found a significant decrease in serum copper level in cases compared with controls. Also the results showed an insignificant decrease in serum selenium levels in the patients compared to the healthy women. According to the results, deficiency of the essential heavy metals may be a probable reason for missed abortion occurrence. These deficiencies can be related to malnutrition, decreased consumption of essential metals and supplementary compounds in pregnancy, lack of regular laboratory monitoring. Thus, consuming supplements in Iranian pregnant women can be helpful in completing a successful pregnancy.</p> Abortion, copper, selenium, serum concentration 44 47 http://pbr.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-26-6&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zoleikha Atarod 10031947532846001307 10031947532846001307 No Department of Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Nima Emadi 10031947532846001308 10031947532846001308 No Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi 10031947532846001309 10031947532846001309 No Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Tehran, Iran Mona Modanlookordi 10031947532846001310 10031947532846001310 No Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mohammad Shokrzadeh 10031947532846001311 10031947532846001311 Yes Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences; Mazandaran, Pharmaceutical Research Center, Sari, Iran