ACE2 and heart failure: Considering the role of the RAS, and specifically ACE2 in COVID-19 infection and pathophysiology, there has been enormous debate as to whether antihypertensive drugs that inhibit the RAS impact disease severity.97, 98, 99, 100, 101 Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) are considered first-line antihypertensive agents, but they also play a crucial role in the management of patients with renal disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and other cardiovascular disorders.