Abruptly stopping high doses of glucocorticoids can be harmful because of which effect?

Rationale: A. Abnormal clots and emboli will develop in blood vessels: While glucocorticoids can affect coagulation factors slightly, abrupt withdrawal is not primarily associated with the development of clots or emboli. This is not the main risk of stopping high-dose therapy suddenly. B. Drug resistance to corticosteroids can occur: Resistance to glucocorticoids develops over long-term receptor or cellular changes, but abrupt cessation does not cause resistance. The primary concern is physiological dependence, not loss of drug efficacy. C. Blood pressure elevation and hypertensive crisis will develop: High-dose glucocorticoids can cause hypertension while being administered, but sudden withdrawal typically does not result in hypertensive crises. Instead, hypotension may occur due to adrenal insufficiency. D. Secretions from adrenal glands have been suppressed: Long-term high-dose glucocorticoid therapy suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, decreasing endogenous cortisol production. Abruptly stopping the drug can precipitate adrenal insufficiency, characterized by hypotension, fatigue, nausea, and potentially life-threatening shock.