The recent North American and European practice guidelines in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE ACS) recommend glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GpIIb-IIIa) inhibition in patients undergoing an early invasive treatment strategy. However, the guidelines are not explicit regarding the timing of initiation of GpIIb-IIIa antagonists, and there is marked variation in clinical practice regarding their use.