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. 2010 Oct 28;10:101. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-10-101

Table 1.

Model Definitions and Abriviations

ah = allelic frequency of the HLA DRB1*1501 susceptibility allele in the general population (only one copy needed for susceptibility)
ahm = allelic frequency of the HLA DRB1*1501 susceptibility allele in the MS population (ahm = 0.328 in UCSF database)

a1, a2, a3 = expected allelic frequency of dominant (a1), recessive (a2), and mixed (a3) alleles at the non-HLA DRB1 loci in the general population

a1m, a2m, a3m = allelic frequency of dominant (a1m), recessive (a2m), and mixed (a3m) alleles at the non-HLA DRB1 loci in an MS population

Fi, F = unknown "frequency of susceptibility" (see text for definition) at the non-HLA loci in the general population (i = 1, 2,...x). [E(Fi) = F = h/r)]

Fm = "frequency of susceptibility" at a non-HLA locus in an MS population

h = known "frequency of susceptibility" at the HLA DRB1 locus in the general population (equal to the probability of having at least 1 copy of this allele) [h = 2ah - (ah)2 = 0.24]

hm = known "frequency of susceptibility" at the HLA DRB1 locus in the MS population (equal to the probability of having at least 1 copy of this allele) [in the UCSF dataset; hm = 0.55]

Pa1, Pa2, Pa3 = probability that a person in the general population has a "susceptible allelic state" (see text for definition) at dominant (Pa1), recessive (Pa2), and mixed (Pa3) non-HLA DRB1 loci. (Pa1 = Pa2 = Pa3 = F = h/r)

Ph1 = probability that person with an HLA-negative sibling (not an identical- twin) has at least one copy of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele

PH = probability that an individual with an affected HLA DRB1*1501 positive sibling has at least one copy this gene

PA1, PA2, PA3 = probability that an individual will inherit a "susceptible allelic state" given that their sibling is known to be in this state (see text for definition) at dominant (Pa1), recessive (Pa2), and mixed (Pa3) non-HLA DRB1 loci.

x (x1, x2, x3) = number of non-HLA DRB1susceptibility genetic loci involved in MS (dominant loci = x1; recessive loci = x2; mixed loci = x3). [x1 + x2 + x3 = x]

PHM = Probability that an individual (from the general population) is both susceptible to getting MS and carries the HLA DRB1*1501 allele. (if Pt1 = Pt0; then PHM = hm)

PAM = Probability that an individual (from the general population) who is both susceptible to getting MS and is in a susceptible state at a specific non-HLA DRB1 locus. (if Pt1 = Pt0; then PAM = Fm)

r = ratio of the "frequency of susceptibility" at the HLA DRB1 locus to the average "frequency of susceptibility" at other non-HLA DRB1 loci. [r = h/F]

n (n1, n2, n3) = number of loci in "susceptible allelic states" required for MS to develop (dominant loci = n1; recessive loci = n2; mixed loci = n3). [n1 + n2 + n3 = n]

P[n] = probability of an individual in the general population possessing at least n loci in a "susceptible allelic state"

C = proportion of patients, susceptible to MS, who do not have any copies of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele

P[S] = probability that an individual in the general population is susceptible to MS This probability is the same as P(G).

Pt = average penetrance of MS phenotype in susceptible patients. Also equal to the proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate (CRMZ).

Pt* = average penetrance of MS phenotype in susceptible patients, adjusted for the shared intra-uterine and childhood environment of twins. [Pt* = (Pt) (2.9/5.4) = CRIG] (See text)

Pt1 = average penetrance of MS phenotype in susceptible patients with at least one copy of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele. Also equal to the proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate (ZH+) for this genotype.

Pt0 = average penetrance of MS phenotype in susceptible patients without any copies of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele. Also equal to the proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate (ZH-) for this genotype

P(MSH+) = Probability of recurrence (i.e., the recurrence rate) in a family member of an MS proband who has at least one copy of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele.

P(MSH-) = Probability of recurrence (i.e., the recurrence rate) in a family member of an MS proband who lacks the HLA DRB1*1501 allele.

P(MS) = prevalence of the MS phenotype in the general population (equated to the life-time probability of getting MS)

P(MZ) = Probability of the 1st twin of an MZ twin-pair getting MS: It is assumed that: P(MZ) = P(MS)

P(MS | MZ) = Conditional probability of getting MS given that your MZ-twin has MS

P(MS | DZ) = Conditional probability of getting MS given that your DZ-twin has MS

P(MS | S) = Conditional probability of getting MS given that your sibling has MS

P(G) = Probability of having any genotype capable of getting MS in response to some environmental exposure

P(E) = Probability of receiving any environmental exposure (all factors) sufficient to cause MS in some susceptible individual

CRMZ = proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate for MS.

CRIG = proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate for MS adjusted for impact of a shared intrauterine environment. [CRIG = (CRMZ) (2.9/5.4)] This variable is the identical to (Pt*) but is used for clarity of the text.

b' = CRIG/P(G | IG) = P(MS, G, E | IG)/P(G | IG)

CRDZ = proband-wise dizygotic-twin concordance rate for MS.

ZH+ = proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate for MS when the proband possesses at least one copy of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele.

ZH- = proband-wise monozygotic-twin concordance rate for MS when the proband does not possess a copy of the HLA DRB1*1501 allele.

CRS = concordance rate for the MS phenotype in a non-twin sibling (1st degree)

CRPC = concordance rate for the MS phenotype in a Parent or Child (1st degree)

CRAU = concordance rate for the MS phenotype in an Aunt or Uncle (2nd degree)

CRFC = concordance rate for the MS phenotype in a First Cousin (3rd degree)