REN and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Nonetheless, it is hypothesized that the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor results in activation of the renin-angiotensin pathway which has been implicated in new-onset HTN, acute myocardial injury, cardiac arrhythmias and acute coronary artery events (2, 35).