Daniel J. Lenihan, MD

Expert Publications

• Native valve infective endocarditis: what is the optimal timing for surgery?
• The "normothermic" Osborn wave induced by severe hypercalcemia.
• Sarcoidosis-induced right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension: echocardiographic imaging.
• Resynchronization therapy in dilated cardiomyopathy: confirmation of hemodynamic improvement with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.
• Evidence for association of coronary sinus levels of hepatocyte growth factor and collateralization in human coronary disease.
• The current status of immune modulating therapy for myocarditis: a case of acute parvovirus myocarditis treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.
• The update on the rationale, use and selection of beta-blockers in heart failure.
• Reversibility of trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity: new insights based on clinical course and response to medical treatment.
• Frequency of late potentials on signal-averaged electrocardiograms during thallium stress testing in coronary artery disease.
• Cardiac sequelae in Brooklyn after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
• Impact of aspirin therapy in cancer patients with thrombocytopenia and acute coronary syndromes.
• Wrap beats.
• Cancer patients with markedly elevated B-type natriuretic peptide may not have volume overload.
• Air embolism in the right ventricle.
• Is trastuzumab associated with adverse cardiac effects in patients with breast cancer?

Media Releases

Get to know Cardiologist Dr. Daniel J. Lenihan, who serves patients in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Lenihan is an accomplished cardiologist serving as the Director of the Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence at Washington University School of Medicine. He has been nationally and internationally active in striving to optimally manage cardiac issues in patients with cancer.  This includes enhancing cardiac safety during cancer therapy, as well as preventing cardiac dysfunction in patients who have survived cancer. Additionally, he has been extensively involved in the development of novel therapy and early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.

The Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence at Washington University School of Medicine works closely with the Siteman Cancer Center Physicians to provide expertise in diagnostic testing, medical management, and interventional and surgical procedures for cancer patients. It is unique because it brings together cardiologists, oncologists, basic, translational, and clinical researchers who work together in promoting cardiovascular health in patients with active cancer or survivors. 

The mission of the Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence is “to eliminate cardiac disease as a barrier to effective cancer therapy in all of our patients at Washington University School of Medicine.”

In the early days of his academic career, Dr. Lenihan graduated with his medical degree from the University Tennessee College of Medicine in 1988. He then went on to serve his residency in internal medicine at Wright-Patterson Medical Center in 1991, followed by his fellowship in cardiovascular disease at University of Cincinnati in 1995.

A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), he is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease & advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.  He is also board certified in Cardio-Oncology by the International Cardio-Oncology Society.

Alongside his clinical role, Dr. Lenihan serves as a Professor of Medicine within the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine. His research interests include cardiac biomarkers, hemodynamic assessments, and the development of educational tools/curriculum in Cardio-Oncology and the optimal treatment of cardiac amyloidosis.

Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart, as well as the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and electrophysiology. Cardiologists are doctors who diagnose, assess, and treat patients with diseases and defects of the heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system).

An authority in his field, Dr. Lenihan’s various awards and recognitions include: College Scholars Program, University of Tennessee (1980); Department of Energy, National Research Grant, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (1983); Health Professions Scholarship, United States Air Force (1984); Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award, University of Tennessee (1984); Wyeth-Ayerst Fellow Reporter Award, American Heart Association (1992); Syntex Scholarship Award, American College of Cardiology (1994); Cardiovascular Meeting Grant Award, ACC/Genentech (1995); Staff of the Year Award, Wright Patterson Air Force Base (1996); Top Doctors, Castle Connelly (2008); and Enrique Lopez Award for Innovative and Humanitarian Achievement (2013).

Recommended Articles

• The Human Heart: Function, Chambers, and Location

  IntroductionThe human heart is a part of the cardiovascular system that is situated in the middle of the chest between the lungs. Its exact location is slightly positioned to the left and behind the sternum (breastbone). The size of the heart is approximately the size of your fist. Its function...

• What is the DASH diet?

  DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is a flexible eating plan developed by experts to lower blood pressure. Although the diet was developed for people with hypertension, it was found to be effective in losing weight, and also in reducing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and other health...

• What are the Signs and Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure?

  Congestive Heart Failure is also called as heart failure, CHF, cardiac failure, left sided heart failure or right sided heart failure. It is a condition in which the heart's function to contract and pump blood is inadequate to meet the needs of the body and the lungs. The blood from the right...

• Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health

  Whether roasted or raw, walnuts are the best nuts and have an abundance of heart healthy nutrients. In a recent study, researchers compared the amount of polyphenols — the powerful antioxidants — in nine types of roasted and raw nuts. They also measured the amount of these antioxidants in two...

• Pain that Requires Prompt Medical Attention

  The following are a list of different painful experiences that one must seek medical attention for:Severe headache“If headache is accompanied by a cold, it could be sinus headache”, says Sandra Fryhofer, MD, MACP, spokeswoman for the American College of Physicians. If the headache is severe and...

• What Is a Stent?

  A stent is an expandable metal tube that is used to treat weak arteries. These stents help in opening up arteries that are narrowed down by the accumulation of plaques. Implantation of the tube helps in reducing the constriction of blood flow in the affected region. The metal mesh is implanted...