Hi JCP,
Nope, Plasma Exchange (or plasmapheresis) is not the same as IVIg, however they have the same objective: reduce the level of antibodies in your blood…
In PE, part of your blood circulation is connected to a machine which filters these antibodies out. One session usually lasts 1 to 2 hours in a blood center and is again usually repeated five times every two days whereas IVIg consists in the injection of human immunoglobulines from blood donors. The treatment last about 5 days, 15 bottles total, each one injected in 2 to 4 hours.
Neither is a permanent cure as the production source for the antibodies is not adressed to, therefore, they have to be repeated regularly every 1 to 3 months depending of your MG level. They may also be used as a one-shot treatment to get over a crisis or to temporily improve your condition, before surgery for instance
I hope these bits of info would clarify the subject, you can learn more with some goggling…
Maurice.