SPAID is a term to describe the spectrum of clinical signs due to systemic and persistent inflammation in Chinese Shar Pei. All the signs in SPAID are autoinflammatory in nature and are related elevated levels of hyaluronan, a molecule which functions as a danger signal (a DAMP) that triggers the inflammatory response. SPAID resembles human AID (autoinflammatory disease) that also presents with multiple inflammatory signs. Many Shar-Pei with SPAID also receive relief from disease by the use of IL-1 inhibitors which suggests a cytokine-driven inflammation and a dysregulation of the innate immune response. SPAID definitely is linked to increased levels of LMW-HA (low molecular weight hyaluronan) which appears to be a breed characteristic related to strong selective breeding for the heavily wrinkled phenotype.
There are two different tests for SPAID. This is the CNV (Copy Number Variant) test.