Objective The aim of study was to investigate Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and to analyze the value of ADC value in the evaluation of renal function after chronic hepatitis B compensated cirrhosis. Methods From July 2015 to January 2017, 46 patients with chronic hepatitis B compensated cirrhosis in the hospital were enrolled in this study. And 40 healthy outpatients were enrolled as control group. In both experimental and control group, 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and the expansionweighted imaging b value was chosen to be 600s/mm2 . The post-processing work station measured the each group renal of ADC value. The paired-samples t test was conducted to analyze the difference of ADC value between the right and left renal in each group. The difference of ADC value between experimental and control group was analyzed by independent t test. The ROC curve was used to analyze the distinguishing value of ADC value among the groups. Results No statistical differences were found in ADC value between the right and left renal in each group(P>0.05). There was a significant difference of ADC value between experimental and control group(P<0.01). ROC analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for ADC value was 0.72 and that the optimal cut off value of ADC for differentiating experimental and control group was 1.93×10- 3 mm2 /s (sensitivity, 80.4%, specificity, 76.9%). Conclusion The noninvasive and noncontrast agent needed characteristic might make ADC value an effective method for detecting and monitoring kidney function in patients with chronic hepatitis B compensated cirrhosis.