List of leukoencephalopathies that typically spare U-fibres

These entities at least leave thin “juxtacortical rim” relatively normal in its earlier course.

• HIV encephalopathy (HIVE): diffuse deep/periventricular WM change + atrophy; U-fibres relatively spared
• Chronic small-vessel ischaemic change (microangiopathy / Binswanger pattern): periventricular/deep WM; U-fibres usually spared
• Delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy: demyelination of deep WM/centrum semiovale with relative U-fibre sparing
• Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD): symmetric periventricular/deep WM, often “tigroid” pattern; U-fibres spared until late
• Krabbe disease: deep WM + corticospinal tracts; U-fibres often spared early
• X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD): posterior peritrigonal/parieto-occipital WM; U-fibres typically spared early, may be involved as it advances
• Vanishing white matter disease: diffuse rarefaction/cystic degeneration of deep WM with relative subcortical rim preservation