Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on the left ventricular texture parameters, blood kinetics parameters, degree of cardiac function and rate of side effects of patients with heart failure when compared to angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), EMBASE (1989 to 2000), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2004), IPA (1970 to 2004), and Chinese Biomedicine Database (1980 to 2003). The quality of included studies such as randomization, blinding, allocation concealment and loss of follow up was evaluated and meta-analysis was performd by RevMan 4.2 software. Results Eighteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The meta-analysis of efficacy didn’t show statistical significance when comparing the pooled effect size of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), degree of cardiac function. The pooled RR rate of side effects was 2.17, 95%CI 1.53 to 3.07, P＜0.000 01. Conclusions No evidence shows significant difference of ACEI group from ARB group in the improvement of cardiac function and left ventricle remodeling. The rate of side effects of ACEI is statistically higher than that of ARB.