Objective To investigate the expression and characteristics of maintenance dialysis patients with white matter degeneration by 3.0TMRI diffusion functional imaging, and to evaluate the value in the diagnosis and classification of them. Methods 108 cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients as study group, 34 cases of healthy persons as control group, they were respectively conventional MR, DWI and DTI examined. Study group according to age related white matter changes (ARWMC) grading standards were divided into three grades, control group and the grades between pairwise statistical comparisons were performed. Results Maintained dialysis patients with white matter degeneration ADC values increased, decreased FA. The bilateral frontal, top pillow leaf of all grades of the white matter degeneration of ADC values and control group there were significant difference (P<0.05), between the grades of white matter degeneration ADC values also exist statistical difference (P<0.05). Three grades of white matter degeneration in bilateral basal ganglia ADC value and the control group, the first, secondary grades were existed statistical difference (P<0.05); study group of bilateral centrum semiovale, periventricular all l grades of the white matter degeneration of FA values and control group were significant difference (P<0.05), between the grades of degeneration of white matter FA values also were existed statistical difference (P<0.05). The third grade myelinopathy in bilateral anterior FA value was significant difference in the control group, the first, secondary grades (P<0.05). The ADC value of bilateral frontal lobe and occipital lobe of the study group was positively correlated with the level of degeneration. The FA value of the bilateral semi oval center and the white matter degeneration of the lateral ventricles were negatively correlated with the degeneration level. Conclusion Diffusion functional imaging can be objectively, sensitively reflected the characteristics and extent of white matter degeneration in maintenance dialysis patients.